Never be afraid to shout out.
I am still celebrating the 6th anniversary of this blog! Why not? Here's a guest post from Missy Butler Reed about our first meeting — like the last post from Joshua Durst, I am so in awe of the serendipities of life, of the chance moments of meeting on this big planet of ours. And I am also in awe of the fact that Missy knew it was me on that street corner by looking at the back of my head! I immediately walked over to her car to see her exuberance first hand. It was clear to me then, and clearer now after my recent book tour, that I love life on a very human scale. Thanks for this remembrance, Missy.
When I saw Patti’s post that 37 Days was 6 years old, it made my heart smile. It had not been lost on me, as our youngest kids are the same age, that she had a new baby when her stepfather died. I have wondered how she managed to crank out such inspiring words while dealing with the needs of a newborn. I have also wondered what it was like to have that kind of grief in her life, while simultaneously having the exquisite joy of a new life in her home, one that her body created and brought forth. I have often considered what a plethora of emotions must have been sitting with her those first months of writing 37 Days.
When I mentioned the anniversary to my husband Tony, he smiled knowingly. He, too, “gets” the magic of Patti and was pleased to hear the news. I launched into a conversation with him about how I could not, for the life of me, remember how I first came to know about Patti. Was it Facebook? The Asheville Citizen-Times? My friend Emily from the Great Big Dreams retreat I had attended? I tried and tried to recall how I first came to 37 Days and Life Is a Verb, but the memory was not to be found. The story that did erupt from my husband was the one of “oh wow, do you remember the first time you met her or I guess, you saw her, or maybe you stalked her?”
My reaction was one of surprise. What was he talking about? He quickly recanted for me a story I had actually forgotten. A story of how one Saturday night we were driving through downtown Asheville after attending some random event and I yelled out, “Stop the car! There’s Patti!” And, because my husband is used to random acts of crazy from me, he did stop the car at the corner in front of Karmosonics. I knew it was Patti – I recognized her fab hair and cute clothes and Emma was by her side, which was a dead giveaway. And because I do not know any better, I rolled my window down and yelled, “Patti Digh! Hey! Patti! It’s Missy Reed from Facebook!” And before I had time to feel embarrassed or ashamed of my inappropriate outburst, she turned, with a huge smile, and said “Hey Missy!” It was a truly happy moment. My words had sprung out of me as if I had seen Steven Tyler walking down Haywood Street or Patti had seen Mr. Johnny Depp hanging out in front of the wig shop on the same corner. My words just jumped out and she received them with a smile. Priceless.
Fast forward a year or so till last month when, at one of Patti’s readings, my Josh fell into deep friendship with the infamous Tess. A bond was forged of too-loud laughter and shushing from John and my hubby and the results were several play dates and a sleepover for the two of them. What also resulted was time spent with Patti, to see her in her own space and environment. To laugh with her about our utter surprise at our children’s behavior (good and bad), to lament about Yoga and proper nutrition as well as aerobic stories of past lives. To realize that some of our ancestors are buried in the same soil, to know that we both have gone there to observe the silent beauty of their final resting place. To see her as a Mom, a wife, a woman and a friend. This has been such a gift.
So, all told, I am so grateful for 37 Days and for Patti Digh. I am thankful she turned around when I yelled for her and so grateful that she has now turned into my friend. Happy Anniversary Patti and 37 Days! It is important to add that my husband and I have also taken GREAT joy in getting to know John as well. In fact, I think Tony would yell out for John on a street corner if necessary!
-Missy Butler Reed
This makes me wonder: How did I meet you? What stops us from shouting out to other human beings? How would life be different if we did that more often?
