San Francisco Dreamin

My trip to San Francisco January 29th & 30th has to rank as one of my most pleasant experiences and not just because SF is such a great city.

One of my Canadian Maltese contacts, Mr. Albert Vella of the Bank of Valletta sent a copy of The Cellini Masterpiece to the Malta Social Club of San Francisco and it was quickly added to the club’s library. The club secretary, Jane Healey, was reading the book when I contacted her. She invited me to January club meeting.

Through a succession of E-mails, Jayne and I quickly became friends. For one thing, she finished the book and liked it. (What better way to begin a relationship?) But even more important, she possesses the generosity and good humor that seems to be a characteristic of nearly all the Maltese people I have met since I started to write and promote my book. Best of all, I would be going back to San Francisco, my most favorite city. I sent Jane a copy of my poster, which she put up in the club bulletin board, and she put out the word to the regulars about my visit.

I also called Tom Anderson, a childhood friend whom I hadn’t seen in forty years who now lives in SF. My first attempt to write a novel was on a ditto machine in his basement when we were 10 years old. I couldn’t believe that a three-page “manuscript" on ruled notebook paper would only be half a page in print! Tom and I went through junior high, confirmation class and senior high school together. After we graduated, we drifted apart so I was anxious to see him again.

The second call was to the San Francisco Mystery Bookstore in Noe Valley. Diane Kudisch said she would be happy to arrange a book-signing and asked me to send her a copy of my book. (Funny how that always seems to be part of the bargain.)

We arrived to unseasonably warm and sunny weather and walked to the bookshop. We climbed some unbelievable hillswith me pulling a heavy load of books in a wheeled bag. My tweed jacket and dress-shirt were well-moistened by the time we got to the bookshop. Tom Anderson showed up, striking as ever at 6’4" sporting a white beard. We both agreed that neither of us had changed a bit in four decades. It was great fun to recall the things that one or the other of us had forgotten over the years. I sold him a book and a few other unsuspecting customers who came in for other reasons. Although normally somewhat shy, I have become fairly adept at pouncing on people, and have sold books to a check-out clerk, my chiropractor and dentist. I am constantly amazed at how many people are interested in Malta or are intrigued when I describe the book as “Indiana Jones meets The Da Vinci Code."

The next morning, on Jane’s advice, we took the BART to South San Francisco. It only took about 20 minutes. The club was “only a four block walk from the station so we decided to walk. We arrived just a few minutes before the meeting was to start.

Jane greeted us at the door. She introduced us around to the members and insisted that we have some pastizzi that the club bartender had prepared. The bar room was crowded and noisy. Maltese people don’t talk, they shout. The first time in Malta I saw two men standing on a corner yelling at each other. After one left I asked the other what they were arguing about. “We weren’t arguing," the man said. “He just asked me for directions to Old Bakery Street."

Shortly we were seated in front of about 50 people in a large meeting room. The club librarian sat next to me. She is very vivacious and said she had been reading my book and wanted to buy a copy. The meeting began with a recital of Hail Mary. At the end, I was asked to say a few words about my book and myself.

I told them about our first night ever in Malta and how I had foolishly decided to rent a car to drive to our hotel. Everything is grist for the mill and Rick’s adventure in the first chapter was based on our experiences. I also told them about our visit to Ta Pinu cathedral on Gozo, which is renowned for its healing. Evie had bought a medal while we were there. Even though we aren’t Roman Catholic, we both believe that it saved her life a few months later when she was struck by a speeding automobile driven by an escaping car thief as she was crossing a street in downtown Minneapolis.

After the meeting closed we set up on a table at the back of the room. Jane had recommended we bring 10 books with us. We filled the suitcase and sold them all. The members mobbed the table and I had writer’s cramp when I was done autographing all the books. Everyone had a story to tell me about something that had happened during their last trip to Malta. After one or two more pastizzis and kisses on both cheeks for Jayne, Joe and Frances Tanti gave us a ride back to our hotel.

It was a wonderful weekend and we now look forward to our visit in Malta at the beginning of March.

SAHHA u hbiberija from Raymond John.