Framed

One of the small delightful moments in publishing a book comes when the author can bring the handsome new cover to the framing shop. Once framed, up on the wall it goes, a combination of humblebrag and in-your-face self promotion. Today, I brought the cover for "Nightmare in the Pacific" to the same Arlington, Virginia framing shop that handled the covers of my three prior books (1).

Like I say, a happy moment.

Except.

I asked how business was going, The owner said, not so good. He said the federal Office of Personnel Management had called to cancel a really big order for framed certificates. It seems that, back in the day -- meaning, like, prior to Jan. 20 -- the OPM or other federal agency had a practice of presenting retirees with certificates marking their service.

With so many federal employees being kicked to the curb, that little gesture of thanks has gone the way of the:

1) Dodo

2) Fax machine

3) Blockbuster chain of stores

4) ____________

(1) More shameless self-promotion: "The Forestport Breaks," Radical Chapters" and "The Ministers' War."