Mom On Tour!

Because nothing says "Happy Mother's Day" more than a rental car from Hertz

If you are following me on social media, then you know I’ve been touring with Daughters of Nantucket throughout New England, which makes a lot of sense given that A) my book is set on an island off the coast of Massachusetts and B) I live in Rhode Island. Most recently, I went on a mini-tour in the midwest, which made a bit less sense given that it’s pretty far from New England and I only know about three people there. But no matter where I’ve been, taking my mother along on tour with me has consistently made good sense.

Me and my mom in Theinsville, Wisconsin

Now, I can’t speak about whether you’d want to take your mother on tour with you, but I can - with great expertise - explain the pros and cons of traveling with my own mother, Ronnee Segal.

PROS:

1. She’s pretty game for anything. Like, for instance, when you call her and say, “Would you like to meet me in Milwaukee the first weekend of May? Maybe as a Mother’s Day trip?” She checks her calendar and then says, “Um…sure!”

2. She’s crafty. Like, for instance, when you call her and say, “Can you make daffodil headbands for like 18 of my girlfriends for the Nantucket Daffodil Festival?” She finds her glue gun and says, “Sure thing!”

7 Daffy Ladies

3. She remembers you when. Like, for instance, when you were so obsessed with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that you went to the premiere at your local movie theater on June 11, 1986 and got a free limited-edition poster that you hung on the door of your bedroom closet until your parents sold the house. So, when you go to Chicago together, your mom gamely helps you recreate moments from the film without laughing in your face or rolling her eyes.

Life moves pretty fast

4. She is an unflappable and enthusiastic drinking buddy. Like, for instance, if you should arrive at a hotel really late at night after taking your Hertz rental car through a precarious and sketchy situation involving a highway onramp that was technically closed to traffic, she’s like, “Should we have some champagne at the Giggly Bar before bed?”

Which you don't do, because clearly, you are giggly enough without it

5. She makes friends everywhere she goes. Our new friends include but are not limited to: Heather, a hairstylist from Maryland; Patti from Lake Forest, Il who we actually might be related to; and the Bronz Fonz in Milwaukee.

My mom dated Henry Winkler during summers on Lake Mahopac in high school so we had to go say hi

6. She helps you make important decisions. Like, for instance, when you stop to shop in Winnektka, IL and ask, “Do you like this top on me?” She is emphatic that it’s the most adorable thing she’s ever seen and you must buy it. Other questions are harder, take more probing, circling back. Oysters or charcuterie? Rosé or white wine? You both order rosé and then remember you both hate rosé.

Reminder to self: no way rosé

7. She knows your book tour shpiel better than you do and will make sure you hit all the Best Of moments. Like, for instance, she will sit in the back of an event and remind you to talk about the cover art by making a box in the air around her face.

8. She tells you when you need to snap out of it. Like, for instance, when you have a massive major-minor panic attack that there is literally NO REASON for you to be spending money or time in the midwest and that you are exhausted and that no one is going to come to your events and that you are a complete and utter hack and a fool and, on top of which, you shouldn’t have picked this fancy restaurant so let’s leave right now before they bring the water, she reminds you to breathe. And then the meal is freaking amazing, like a-reason-to-move-to-Milwaukee-kind-of-good and she says, “See? Aren’t you glad we stayed?”

Me, glad I stayed, full of steak frites and sporting my new cute Bell top from Bunny & Babe in Winnetka

CONS:

You know what? They are minor and petty, and involve my mother’s OCD packing ritual of tissue paper, more tissue paper, plastic bags, jewelry bags inside smaller jewelry bags inside other bags like a complex Russian Nesting Doll situation in which everything is right there in front of you but you can’t find a thing and so — best to skip right over that in favor of all the pros. Because mom, you are a pro. Happy Mother’s Day from me and the Hertz rental car place on North State Street. Sorry we didn’t pay upfront for gas, and I hope you get some gooey butter cake to celebrate.

IN OTHER NEWS:

I know it’s Mother’s Day, but I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention my father, Dr. Norman Medow, who has been a great patron of this artist (!!!) from the start and helped fund many of these trips and fun tour events. Our travels would have been limited and not nearly as classy without your support, Dad. Thank you!

IN BOOK NEWS:

Daughters of Nantucket would make a Great Mother’s Day gift according to Yankee Magazine. And, thank you, Historical Novel Society, for this wonderful review of my novel, which concludes by saying, “engaging to the finale (which leaves one plot thread tantalizingly open), this novel would be a great book club choice.” Did you hear that book clubs? TANTALIZING!

This week, you can catch me online in conversation with author Jane Healy for a Historical Happy Hour, Wednesday, May 17th at 7 pm ET. Register on Zoom here! Especially if you live anywhere outside of New England because you are probably not going to be seeing me in person anytime soon! 😃

As always, please check out my website for other upcoming events. Big local ones include May 22 at the North Kingstown Library at 6:30 pm, June 1 at the Weymouth Libraries with Haley Booksellers at 7 pm, and June 23 at the Barrington Yacht Club — with details to come on my website and on social media.

Check out all of the fun New England-y themed merch - including my novel and my friend Bridget’s handwoven bracelets from Whale Tail Weaving. I have two versions of the bracelets, The Captain’s Daughter and The Captain’s Wife

Happy Mother’s Day. Whether you are a mom-mom, an aunt, a great friend, a teacher, a dog mom, or the like — everyone gets mothered by and gives mothering to the people they love, meaning that everyone should celebrate. Extra hugs from me if you have lost your mom or your child and are thinking about them this weekend.

xo

Julie