Noni will be attending Sanfrancisco's annual 'Litquake' again this year! I know she rarely misses it- she spoke at last year's celebration of the work of her friend and City Lights founder and Poet, Lawrence Ferlinghetti (it's on youtube) along with Patti Smith, Tom Waits, Steve Earle, and her father Michael, who read an original poem.
My friend met her at the party after, and she told him that she rarely misses the fest- but she usually goes just as a fan- attending readings of her favorite writers. My friend (the same one!) waited on her and her parents in North Beach yesterday, and she remembered him! He said she she was super nice and told him he should swing by City Lights and check out the new display- "support the books!! There's nothing like the texture of a great page between your fingers! We gotta keep these bookstores (like City Lights- the first paperback bookstore ever!) open and thriving!". She was wearing a Tom Waits t shirt and a sailor cap, and introduced her parents, too.
And she looked happy and healthy and cute as a button! She finished a plate of pasta and patted her stomach and said: "ah! Pasta, books, family, friends, nice people- what a beautiful day! I love this town!".... So sweet! Wish I was there! Gotta check out Litquake! Anyone have any news or pics?
Thanks for sharing! I live vicariously through other people's Winona encounters, although I've had my own encounter, well---almost---she was in a car driving away. Hahaha!
