What a crazy random happenstance!

So yesterday at work we were slammed. Maybe because the weather has been incredibly nice and the leaves are pretty colors.

Anyways.

We occasionally get authors that come into Borders to sign all the books of theirs we have in stock.

It’s pretty sweet, and I have been early looking forward to the day an author I really enjoy comes in.

So yesterday I was at the registers and overhear the girl next to me (Hayley)

tell the older lady she was helping,

“Yes, we have your books in stock. Let me have someone grab them for you to sign.”

I asked her who it was and found out the lady’s name was Bette Green.

Hmm…I thought that name sounded familiar

so

I peeked over Hayley’s shoulder to see the title of the books she was signing.

Bette Greene wrote Summer of my German Soldier!!!!!

That book was a staple of my childhood.

I distinctly remember reading it for the first time,

I owned it pre-flood,

I re-read it regularly,

I love love loved it.

I was so flustered and excited that I couldn’t even ring up the next customer in line.

Hayley said, “Elena – just go talk to her. We have the registers covered.”

So I did.

I walked over and introduced myself to her and let her know what an influence she was on my childhood.

She gave me a huge hug and signed a book for me

and chatted my ear off for the next half an hour.

She wrote:

For Elena – A long time fan. Best wishes. Bette Greene.

My co-worker thought it said “o long hair”.

Ah well.