I flew to Chicago for a series of Memory Keeper discussion panels on behalf of my Zaidy's War publisher, Amsterdam Publishers.

The travel gods tried to keep me from getting there (Among other delays, 45 minutes of taxiing at both ends. Ain't nobody got time for that!), but I wouldn't let them succeed.

I bumped into no lesser a light than Douglas Murray, with whom I chatted briefly, and who blessed me that I should make it to my talk on time. I did! I made it with 1 minute left!

I quickly acquainted myself with my colleagues upon arrival at Congregation B'nai Tikvah, then got immediately into it, converting my angst into positive energy. I led with my Murray story, and the crowd appreciated my gentle doses of humor. For my responses, I quoted Christopher Hitchens, Marcus Aurelius, Odysseus and more, which folks enjoyed and chatted with me about in after-discussions.

We then had a book signing, and met wonderful, nice, curious and interested folks, and some of us completely sold out of the wares we brought with us.

It was the largest crowd I ever spoke to - 290 strong - and it was my first discussion panel. I got an A.

And it was evening, and it was morning. It was a good day.

Here's the recording!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwoRj9buiFU

P.S. I'm not wearing that shirt again.