Sometimes you meet a person and you feel instantly connected. I had that experience this past Friday except it was with six people. I’ll refer to them as the Happy Six going forward.
The Happy Six invited me to attend their book club this month. They read Eyes on the Horizon and wanted to discuss it with me. I think I may have learned more about the book from them than they learned from me. The experience was wonderful and it solidified my love of writing – specifically novels. I fell back in love with my characters simply because the Happy Six got to meet them – kind of like introducing two people you absolutely love and seeing how they hit it off and understand them to the depth you understand them. Kind of like that.
I introduced Claudia to the Happy Six with trepidation and a
smidge of anxiety. After all, she’s quite mental throughout the book – sad,
self-destructive, and depleted of hope.
They loved her.
I introduced Rose and Brooke, Maddie and Henry, and a couple
psychiatrists, along with a real loser, Nigel. They liked all the characters.
They may not have liked Nigel but they understood his role in the story and
unfortunately, recognized that there are people like him in the world.
None of them hesitated to share their opinions or stories of grief and trauma. Everyone is grieving in some way, everyone is experiencing some kind of trauma. Everyone needs empathy, sympathy, and the acknowledgment that they're not alone in their journey.
As we talked about the characters in Eyes in the Horizon, I observed the new characters in my life. The Happy Six is happy because they
move together like hockey players on the ice.
There’s Lorie. She's sweet, smart, and full of entertaining
stories that her daughter, Briana, flavors with some of the funniest quips I’ve
heard in a long time. The love between them is obvious and Briana uses it to
drive her mother nuts and at the same time, comfort her. It was a joy to
observe. And it was also a joy to observe Briana’s love of teaching. I was
happy to see she had a kinship with my character Rose because of it.
Louise was very warm, very kind, and so open and honest with
her own stories and experiences that I got the idea she needed a pen and some
paper to write them all down so she can share them with the
world.
Bridget was quiet, observing everything; and quick to
nod and smile as she listened to her friends talk. And they talk a lot! I loved
it. I loved the way Bridget absorbed the compliments from her friends as she
embarks on saying yes to the dress - acknowledging their excitement but clear that "she'll know when she knows". I can’t imagine she’ll look anything but
beautiful in whatever she wears.
Martha entered the room with a confidence and aura of
contentment that almost seemed unusual given the amount of children she has!
Franklin, her wee baby, does look like her, and has the coolest name I’ve heard
in a long time. I absolutely loved her viewpoints about the book – especially because
she liked it! – because she wasn’t shy about offering her opinion of Nigel,
Brooke, and the ending.
Last but certainly not least, Rochelle. She is quietly sweet and kind, empathetic in a way that makes everyone else in the room comfortable. I loved the comments she made about the book, but I also loved the way she made me feel welcome from the very first moment we greeted each other in Lorie’s driveway. Before we started discussing the book, she handed me a basket filled with Buffalo goodies from the Happy Six . Chocolates – sponge candy!, a beautifully scented candle, a Bills bracelet – Go Bills!, a Buffalo tumbler, bath essentials and a bottle of champagne.
Warmth.
Welcoming.
Wonderful.
