The delivery of my first book, Dreamscapes, is finally happening. The long journey of the books from the printer in China began in mid-October. I was told they would travel to a shipping port outside NYC, where there might be a delay for inspection due to our country’s present security concerns. On December 8th I learned the trucking company terminal in Buffalo had tried to reach me. In retrospect I’m thankful for the small express shipment of books that I took over to the Burchfield Penny Museum Store a month in advance. It saved what could have been much anxiety!
Local delivery of the shipment was arranged for December 10th. The day was blustery with a slight chill, but the ground was dry. The truck driver said he would arrive in 10 minutes, but he was pulled over on route and the truck was searched. When the huge truck pulled up about an hour later, a tingly feeling was in my arms – they are here!
When I looked in the rear of the truck, there were large pallets with the book cartons. I noticed the top level seemed a little jarred in packing. The kind trucker explained there was probably a shift in transit, but this was one of the finest packing jobs he’d ever seen, and there should be no problem. He inserted his lift under the first pallet, rolled to the edge of the truck, and turned on a lift gate that lowered him and the first pallet of books to the ground. Finally he rolled the books up a driveway to the storage area. I plan to secure a second load in a thick blanket and tarp, against the Buffalo weather. The day after the book delivery it snowed consistently, but weather had favored us, and I’m thankful for all our good fortune.