July 1, 2014
My instead: My friend
and I saw Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat Pray Love) at the Ethical Society in
St. Louis.
My heart skipped a beat
when my friend Maureen excitedly informed me that my birthday gift from her
would be attending an Elizabeth Gilbert (Author of Eat Pray Love ~ my favorite
book) event at the Ethical Society in St. Louis. I don't advocate wishing one's
life away...but the day could not move fast enough for me!
Maureen and I arrived a
half hour before the start time of 7:00 which is not my style. I’m usually
rolling in right at game time! The crowd was sparse at first and I was a happy
camper…the smaller, the better. I wanted an intimate gathering, not a
standing-room-only audience. But by 7:00, well over half the room was filled
with women much like Maureen and I with just a sprinkling of men.
She walked onto the
stage with a spirit that I knew so well from her books and her talks. And she
was even more engaging in person. Earlier I wanted the day to speed
by...now, you can slow down, Ms. Evening. I could have listened to Liz all
night and into the morning. Her mind is amazing. She spoke with eloquence, yet
her manner embraced us all as longtime friends.
I even
got to ask her a question. I sound like a kid writing this, don't I! I
raised my hand once and she called on me right away. Mine was the last one that
she answered before she did the lightening round. Awestruck, I fumbled my
words, yet unspoken, and blurted out “I love you”. Seriously? Well, I do. I
asked her how she FELT while writing “Eat Pray Love”, a memoir, compared to how
she FELT writing “The Signature of ALL Things” (SOAT), a fiction. She explained
it so assuredly. She had a stack of diary-type notes that had to be sorted and
edited to create her "Eat Pray Love" memoir. SOAT was researched for
3 years and had a 70 page outline, but she admitted that there is actually more
of “who she is” exposed in this fiction than the memoir. I wish I would have
videotaped her answer because my meager rendition here does not even begin to
capture Liz’ heartfelt and unique answer. All I know on my end is that I will
read “The Signature of ALL Things” with a whole new perspective
because it reveals more to me about Liz and how she thinks. That's all that
matters.
After all the interrogation
that was imposed on Liz, we lined up to have her sign our books. As she
signed our copies, we got to chat a bit with her. She was a real person who
treated each and every one of us as if we were the only ones there. She was so
accommodating to our “groupie” behavior. She knows, believes and appreciates
the fact that her fans are why she is where she is. After the book
signing, we lined up again to get a photo taken with her. As I walked up to her
for our photo, she gave me the biggest hug...I think because she could feel my
admiration. It was impossible to hide. While she and I were posing for our
photo, I whispered to her "You are my new best friend." For real
and surreal, both at once!
The evening of July 1st, 2014 is a part of history now,
my history. I told my Maureen I would remember it as long as I
CAN remember. On the ride home I also told her that I just could not get
enough of the experience. She said "Mary, we had to leave sometime."
I immediately countered that I wasn't talking about the length of time spent,
but just about being totally present in each moment of the evening with Liz.
There was not one ounce of disappointment. All
expectations were met. Liz was over the top. Why can’t all plans, all events,
all encounters, and all relationships be like meeting Liz Gilbert? Because at
some point we have to wake up….
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