On a bus somewhere between Phoenix & Denver: Ok, one more post (for now) about Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love." She's on a book tour for the release of the paperback version of the book and I keep missing her by a day or two. Finally, I see that she's going to be in Pasadena, CA on June 11, which is about 20 mins. away from where I'm going to be just 2 hours earlier. I call my sweet friend and former college roommate, Hallie, and invite her to a lovely dinner. Oh, and can you please take me to a book signing too?
We go to Vroman's and the room is PACKED. Standing room only. One man is there and he looks confused, the rest are all women. (Note to self: don't try to pick up men at book signings.) Elizabeth comes out to speak and she is great - funny, smart, crass, real - just how I would imagine her to be. I stand in line to get my book signed and I try thinking of witty things to say. As the time draws near to meet her, I start to get nervous. What's wrong with me? I work with celebrities and can pretty much carry on a conversation wtih anyone, so what gives? Maybe because she has written something so personal? Maybe because her story is so similar to mine? Whatever the reason is, my mind is cluttered with gracious and profound ways to convey my thanks to her. As she looks up from the autograph table, I blurt out the most real thing I can think to say to such a woman:
"I F*%#ing love your book!"
Yep, I just shouted profanity at my current favorite author.
Luckily, she accepts the compliment with a laugh. I start to babble on about how I am a traveler as well, how I am even more inspired now to go to places I've never been, how silly it is that I'm nervous right now (which she agrees with)... then I just run out of things to say. I mean, there is so much more that I can say, but I know my time is almost up and there are ohter people behind me and what was it again that I wanted to ask her? As she hands me my book back, I smile but that fear of panic comes over me. This is my one chance to ask my guru (for this moment) the key to it all. What is it? What is that one burning question that I may only get to ask her this once?
Cut to "A Christmas Story." Remember when Ralphie went to see Santa to ask for a Red Ryder BB Gun? He wanted that thing more than anything else but when he finally got his chance to meet the man to make it all happen, he simply forgets for that most important moment and agrees to take a football instead. As he gets pushed away from his only chance, his memory returns and he climbs back up a slide to Santa and shouts out his REAL request, "an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and 'this thing' which tells time."
This is my Red Ryder BB Gun moment. I'm about to walk away from what I know will be a huge key in "getting it" and it finally comes back to me. I spin around, interrupt the next person in line (sorry!) and say to Elizabeth, "One more thing! Just tell me - does it really get better?" She thinks for a moment and says, "It's like my friend, Richard from Texas, told me. Give it six months, you'll feel better. Then when that six months is up, give it six more. It just takes time. And it does get better."
I love that she didn't have ask what I was talking about. I love that she didn't need to know that it's already been a year and a half. I love that she's right - healing and learning DOES take time (by the way - I HATE that fact). I love that I finally got my Red Ryder BB Gun. Now let's just hope I don't shoot my eye out.
