Today is Sunday, July 9. Usually, when I'm home, I attend the 11:15 traditional Latin Mass at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory in San José, but Chrystal, the friend who usually gives me a ride, wanted to go earlier so she could help her brother-in-law bring her nieces to an amusement park while her sister recovers from a minor medical procedure. When I was leaving the 9:30 Mass in the office space the oratory is renting while we fundraise and try to locate a permanent real church where we can worship God, Gail, a woman I know who lives part of the year in Connecticut and part here, was waiting outside for the 11:15 Mass to begin. She pulled me aside, and out of the blue she started smiling and said she wanted to tell me something in person, rather than write an email. I've never seen her so animated. She wanted to thank me for this story. She laughed, and we both laughed while she told me how various parts of the story had cracked her up. I needed that! she said. Send me more if you have it. That was the best review I ever got from anyone. I got to see in person the delightful enthusiasm of this woman who I never suspected read anything I ever sent her. I achieved my writerly goal. I pleased my reader. I needed that too!
Today is Sunday, July 9. Usually, when I'm home, I attend the 11:15 traditional Latin Mass at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory in San José, but Chrystal, the friend who usually gives me a ride, wanted to go earlier so she could help her brother-in-law bring her nieces to an amusement park while her sister recovers from a minor medical procedure. When I was leaving the 9:30 Mass in the office space the oratory is renting while we fundraise and try to locate a permanent real church where we can worship God, Gail, a woman I know who lives part of the year in Connecticut and part here, was waiting outside for the 11:15 Mass to begin. She pulled me aside, and out of the blue she started smiling and said she wanted to tell me something in person, rather than write an email. I've never seen her so animated. She wanted to thank me for this story. She laughed, and we both laughed while she told me how various parts of the story had cracked her up. I needed that! she said. Send me more if you have it. That was the best review I ever got from anyone. I got to see in person the delightful enthusiasm of this woman who I never suspected read anything I ever sent her. I achieved my writerly goal. I pleased my reader. I needed that too!