So, since about March of 2007, I have had a daydream about the book and being a writer. I keep thinking that the coolest thing that could ever happen to me would be if I were walking through the airport and happened to see someone just sitting in a terminal reading my book. That hasn’t happened although I have had two very serendipitous incidents at bookstores in Columbia, South Carolina and Bronx, New York. I think this is my dream- to quietly spot someone reading the book in a place where she has a choice about what she is reading– because I have no desire really to be a famous writer– I just want to write things that are of use to other people, that have meaning for them in some way. And spotting someone reading it in the airport- a place where you can read whatever you want– seems the perfect fit.
Anyway, this past Friday, I had an almost as cool as my dream thing happen. I was walking from my house to the small downtown area of my town when I passed a woman who was walking in the opposite direction.
“Hi!” She said very enthusiastically– like she knew me, but we didn’t know each other.
“How are you?” I responded, just as enthusiastically.
“Good. Listen, I just LOVED your book. You are a great writer. I want to see you on Oprah!”
I was almost speechless, but managed to profusely thank the woman and tell her the truth, “I’d just be excited if I could land tickets to be in Oprah’s audience” (seriously, two summers ago, I spent one entire day at the beach hitting redial on my cell phone, trying to get Oprah tickets on the first day that the ticket line opened for the next season. At 6 pm EST, I finally got a ring and an automated answer telling me that there were no tickets left for the new season)! I then walked off with a little pep in my step. It wasn’t an airport terminal. I hadn’t even left my town. But it was still pretty cool- not because I was recognized but because my work was recognized. And when you sit in a little home office all day, not knowing if your work is of use or even as funny as you think it is or whatever (because let’s face it, all my co-worker Lola cares about is how often I am going to give up on saying no and hand her a Begging Strip), it’s nice to hear– when you least expect it and when you aren’t finishing for it, affirmation that it mattered to somebody.
PS. I am flying to Boston this Wednesday to do a presentation at Tufts University and fly back to Charlotte on Thursday. So, if you are going to be in the Charlotte or Boston airports, take your copy of Hijas with you and read it while you are in the terminals! AH, a girl can dream, can’t she?
You’ll get there, honey!!! I just know it!
Your work matters to a lot of people, honey!