driving the shuttle

riding on the shuttle this a.m. i sat up front close to the driver - a woman who was ready to tell a story. over the roar of the engine and the chatter of those around - she shared her adventures as a bus driver. Lakers fans dressed from head to toe in bright purple and yellow, couples who arrived with no pants, parties that never stopped and people falling in and out of the bus, nephews and nieces embarrassed to be seen with their parents, aunts and uncles.... she talked and talked and laughed and laughed and in the end as i left, she told me that she loved her job. so far, she is my favorite part of this day.

sharing stories

I met Julia Alvarez at the American Association of Museums Conference today. She was the keynote speaker. I missed her talk. I was on a tour of the Southwestern Museum of the American Indian and didn't get back in time. However, I went to her book signing. I waited in line and I talked with people - they hadn't read her books but they loved her talk.

When it was my turn to have a book signed, she began writing my name and signing my copy. I began speaking without knowing what I would say. I told her that I read 'In the Time of Butterflies' durning a period of great tragedy in my life - I had just experienced the death of one of my dearest friends - a nurse, a wife, a young mother. I carried Ms. Alvarez's book with me on the plane, to the funeral, and in the month's following. I read it slowly and with an aching heart - I needed to share the pain of loss and life with someone who wouldn't try to make me feel better, but who would let me take the time I needed to understand what had happened.  Her writing helped me mourn the loss of my friend and to cope with continuing to live without this important person in my life.

To this day I cannot think of Julia Alvarez without thinking of her role in my life. Ms. Alvarez sat quietly as I told her why I came to see her today - calmly, simply, without tears. When I finished she handed me my book and thanked me for sharing just a little of my story. I, in turn, thanked her for writing.