After dining at Millennium, I made a quick escape to catch Tom Spanbauer’s reading at a Clean Well-Lighted Place For Books. Spanbauer’s latest book is "Now is the Hour," and he began his event by mentioning the book title came from an old song, which he proceeded to sing.

Reading went well. At one point during the reading, Tom got choked up and had to stop to collect himself before he could finish the piece. As is often the case anymore, people I haven’t seen for a while look at me like I’m familiar, but they don’t automatically recognize me. As soon as I mentioned who I was, we were immediately on the same page, and chatting as he signed my book.

Afterward, we walked from the bookstore to a small art gallery/studio a few blocks away. Spent a lot of time during the walk chatting with Tom about everything and nothing. He’s such an inspiration to me as a writer, but rather than pummel him with writing questions and such, we just let the conversation happen as we walked.

At the art gallery, we sat on a couch and chatted some more. I also got the opportunity to meet and talk with his sister, who was visiting from Idaho. At one point, Tom read two more pieces from the book for the small crowd that was gathered in the art gallery. The second piece was about his sister and was read at her request. As he described things that happened 45 years ago, she would shake her head yes or no as to whether it was true.

The thing about Tom is just how much he values the quest of writing. That is something that is often lost on me, since there is always such a pressure to finish, to push on, to publish… whereas Tom says he writes because he likes spending time in those dark corners of his life, because that’s where you hit the real things that connect with people.

I did tell him that every so often, I price Portland apartments, just because it would allow me to become his student and sit in his house every week and learn from him.

But overall, it was a great night, and I can’t wait to finish the book (this summer, as I’ve promised!) and send it off in a package to Portland, so Tom can see what he taught me…

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