AnnaArnett.com

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The whole affair was an exhilarating, exhausting experience. I eagerly looked forward to it, thoroughly enjoyed it, and am most pleased to have it over with.

All seven of my children came, as well as many, many grand and great-grandchildren. My descendants and their spouses are my real pride and joy. I am greatly pleased with every one of them.

Many people came whom I had not seen for what seems like ages, and I loved all the hugs. I think I smiled almost nonstop, except for when I laughed, or shed tears of joy.

I want to extend my gratitude to Todd and Annette Tingey, owners of A+ Book Fairs for offering their warehouse as a setting for the launch. She is my only sister's granddaughter, and they live just down the road a piece from us. They also taught my kids how to make Navajo tacos, and furnished the propane grills and Dutch ovens to fry them. They even stayed for the clean-up.

My daughter Kathleen (Kat for short) took charge of the food. Youngest daughter Karlene decorated tables with containers of balled yarn. David and Paul arrived early for set-up, and David collected money at the book signing table. Marolyn, an elementary school principal who lives across Phoenix in Deer Valley, came to assist. Mark and Wayne set up their big screen and equipment for the program they presented and MC'd.

Even Melinda Sanchez got roped into helping. I asked her if she'd had any idea what she was getting into when she encouraged her son to marry my granddaughter. She laughed.

A few days earlier, Mark set up a "studio" in his family room and videotaped a book trailer for Lolly's Yarn. He interviewed me on one of my "tired" days (they come more often than I like to admit) and didn't show me anything until the book launch, after I'd read a bit from the book about how Charles proposed to me. So far, that's the one and only time I've seen the trailer. I doubt it will be the last.

I fear I was too busy criticizing my scraggly hairdo and my double chin to fully enjoy his efforts. The other women in the film, my daughters and Melinda, stood together in a clump deploring their own looks and/or performances. Isn't that just like women?

David has put Mark's trailer on this website (in the sidebar to the left, up at the top) which you can watch right here by clicking it. By the way, David has revamped my entire website since the launch. Please let us know whether or not you like it, and how much. Come to think of it, please let us know that you like it and that you like it a whole lot!

Karlene had some plaques made to be presented to Paul, David, and me. David and Paul, under the pseudonym combining their two middle names, Carl Douglas, published an historical, political book titled The Baltimore Principles. They also have their own company, Two Dogs Publishing, which happens to also be the publisher of Lolly's Yarn (all in the family, right?). We were each proud recipients this evening of a "Punkin Award," similar to the one Mark got a few years ago for Baby Boomerang, best documentary. We seem to have created a new family tradition with the not-so-coveted Punkin Award.

My plaque reads:

For all you unenlightened people, Charles grew up in the Duncan valley in southeastern Arizona, where their high school pep song proclaimed themselves the "Duncan Punkin Rollers." The rolling of pumpkins may or may not have been a common occurrence in this farming community, but the moniker has a delightful small town feel to it. Across the New Mexico border in the neighboring town of Virden, they were proudly known as the "Virden Beet Diggers." The old timers in Duncan still sing with gusto, "We're the Duncan Punkin Rollers, Rolling up the score" (to the tune of "I've Been Workin' on the Railroad").

Don't laugh too hard. Back in the late thirties, Duncan High School's basketball team took state championship three years in a row. That was when all high schools in the state competed together, regardless of size. Charles had graduated by then, but his younger brother Fred played those three years.

However, for a dozen or so years now, new generations of Duncan High students sing, "We're the Duncan Fighting Wildkats." Sad, isn't it? (I'm not even suggesting which generation I mean.)