Monday, June 25, 2007

A Personal Note



Opening the mail box to find something other than a credit card bill or yet another offer for a credit card or a catalog where you can use your credit card, is such a delight.

In the past week I've received three lovely thank you notes regarding Martha's Shower on the 16th. The first to arrive was Betsie's - she must have written it as soon as she arrived home. It was one of the nicest notes I've ever gotten - perfectly lovely. Betsie is someone I've always wanted to get to know better. She was a dancer in New York before moving to Hutchinson with her husband. She teaches dance and mounts some extraordinary performances, including The Prairie Nutcracker, which included a part written specifically for Martha. I've always thought that was such an amazing honor - to have a part written for you.

I remember reading once that Princess Diana used to address and stamp the envelope and leave it with the note paper out on her writing desk before going to an event, so when she arrived home she would write the thank you note promptly. I thought that such a lovely idea. When I'm leading a life where I'm invited to places on such a regular basis I need to do that, I'll keep it in mind. I wondered if maybe Betsie had read the same thing because her note arrived so promptly.

A day or two later I got Julie's note and it, too, was wonderful. It arrived on a Mary Englebreit card. She remembers that I love "Home Companion," Englebreit's magazine. There's something charming about getting a hand written note from someone you see on a somewhat regular basis anyway. There's a unique beauty in that, alone, not to mention the extra care that went into choosing a card.

A day or so after that I got a note from Martha, who no doubt was busy writing many notes for her gifts. Martha has a terrific command of the language and her thank you note was a work of art in its own way. I believe she was touched by the way the women who gathered here that day honored her in different ways.

I believe that's something we all crave, but so rarely get - to be honored by those important to us. It's why celebrations are essential to the human experience - be they bridal showers or birthday parties. Everyone deserves to be the center of attention at times. And I believe we need it. Why, then, do we so rarely give that to each other?

It's Done

The garden tour, that has consumed practically every waking moment for weeks, is over for this year. It went well and after spending tomorrow doing some detail work on it I can rest.

I am not doing anything tomorrow that doesn't HAVE to be done. In fact, that is pretty much my plan for the whole week. I was at a health fair yesterday. Today I was at the office or otherwise working on the garden tour for about 10 hours straight. I need to do something different now.

I would love to get in the car and just drive somewhere and be in a different place - some place I've not seen before, some place I've not visited, some place I've never even thought about going. But, alas, I have an eye doctor's appointment tomorrow, Creative Sisterhood on Tuesday, an important board meeting on Wednesday - you see the trend.

But at least I can rest a bit and focus on some of my "real life" as opposed to my work life. I lead a life that needs some attention regularly and it suffers when work is consuming so much energy.