We arrived in New York City on an Acela two days ago, ten minutes after finding out we had gotten a miracle: our little writing book had hit the New York Times bestseller list, without having gotten a single review. So thank you, everyone here. We owe you forever. I also secretly believe that God put Her thumb on the scale, as She does for librarians, public school teachers, and Sunday school teachers. But you all! We are going to send our dog Mukti to the first respondent as a gesture of gratitude.

Then, the next day, another wild proof of God showing off: We went into an Irish Tavern on W. 47th, to get the Irish breakfast. The bartender came over, took our order, and was giving me the code for WiFi—147 Guinness. He started to spell it for me, and I said, “I’ve been sober a long time, but I still remember how to spell Guinness.” We both laughed. Later, when Neal got up for the bathroom, he came over and quietly asked how much time I had. I told him I had nearly forty years, and asked him the same question. “Six months!” he said, wide-eyed and we both cheered with amazement. Then he reached into his pocket and showed me a blue 24-hour sobriety chip and a red six-month one. We were, at that moment, the two happiest people in New York City.

Tonight Neal and I fly to Burlington, Vt, to do our laundry and march in a No Kings rally tomorrow. (Oh, yeah, and do a theatre event in Stowe!) Please please join us on the streets somewhere near you. This is how we change the world, millions of us—we the people—shaking off the despair and daily shock to show up for those who are being crushed by the current would-be king. Remember the great Jason Robards in “A Thousand Clowns”, out on the street in Manhattan at dawn, calling out to his neighbors that he wants to see them ALL outside with him for morning calisthenics? That’s me! I will be looking for you, waving and smiling, and feeling a huge resurgence of hope. I can promise this for you, but as Woody Allen said before I turned on him, 80% of life is just showing up—so try to be there. Deal? This morning’s scripture was from the Hebrew Bible, where God says to Moses after his 40 years in the wilderness, to notice that after all that, his shoes hadn’t worn out. And ours haven’t either. Minneapolis is our North Star, neighbors protecting and encouraging neighbors. Love you, thank you and waving at you.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/786813/good-writing-by-neal-allen-and-anne-lamott/