(repost from 6/2006)
If you could see my desk you would chuckle. Okay, maybe not. Perhaps you would have pity on me, volunteer your time and set to work on my massive to-do list. (Any takers, huh, huh?)
Seriously, I have stacks of bills to pay, letters to answer, books to mail out, and a checkbook to balance. That’s not including the research books for my work-in-progress, my grandma’s medical bills I have to figure out, and my non-fiction manuscript galley that I need to read through.
Usually, I can keep the balls up in the air. The bills are rarely late. The checkbook evidentially gets balanced. I get my kids to the right camp, on the right day. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you HAVE TO read Susie Warren’s story on http://www.faithchicks.com/)
And somehow, with God’s grace, my writing assignments are turned in on time. But it’s the things like mailing books out that end up taking longer than they should.
This is NOT a good thing. Not only do I want my readers to like me, but sometimes they might not live long enough to seen the autographed front cover. Let me explain . . .
Two years ago I received the first copies of Night Song in the mail. One thing I do is send free books to everyone who helped on the project–especially to the veterans I interview.
Well, one of the men I interviewed was a medic. He gave me some great information for my character, Nick. (Would you believe I had to go look his name up! I have too many hunky heroes in my head!)
Anyway, I emailed Earl to let him know the book would be in the mail. He said he was down with a broken hip, but he was looking forward to getting the book. A few days passed (I was under deadline for another project). Then a week. Then two. Finally, I got the book in the mail. THAT THE SAME DAY I got a note from Earl’s son telling me he’d passed away. I felt HORRIBLE! I mean, I was literally sick to my stomach. Earl had helped me so much. He had been SO excited to have an autographed copy from me. And I couldn’t get my act together enough to mail a silly book.
I sent a sympathy card to Earl’s family and a letter. I apologized to them for not sending the book sooner. A week later I received an email from his daughter.
“Oh honey,” she said. “Don’t worry about not sending the book. My dad got tired of waiting and had me buy a copy for him. He read it right before he passed away and loved it. He was so excited. He showed everyone.”
Thank you, GOD!
I was SO thankful. Even though I didn’t have my act together, Someone did!
As an added bonus, through the communication with Earl’s kids I discovered he never shared much about his experiences during WWII. (This is common with many veterans.)
After his death, I was able to forward the emails and stories he’d sent me, and because of that they were able to discover part of their father’s past they’d never known.
Isn’t God good? In spite of my procrastination.
Your story of Earl really touched my heart. I got teary-eyed. At least he got to read the story.
Oh yes, God is so good to us. He never seems to lose patience with us and at times we deserve a tongue lashing, I know.
Thank you for sharing, Tricia.
I can SO relatet to the procrastination part of life!!!
Especially when it comes to mailing things… speaking of, I need to get that questionaire for jury duty into the mail…
I’m glad Earl got to read the story, and I’m glad you got to communicate with his family, and pass on some of his legacy.
Tricia, Thanks for sharing so vulnerably. I also procrastinate important things at times and regret it. I would be lost without the grace of God at such times.
What a tremendous blessing that you could share Earl’s war stories with his family. I would love to know more about my father and grandfather’s years in the wars. Neither of them talked about it.
We’ve all been there in one way or another, and God is so lovingly patient with us. Thanks for sharing this story. I’m so glad that Earl was able to read your book, and his family was blessed as well.
Thanks for sharing Tricia!
Blessings, Andie
Years ago I wrote a nf on a school disaster. Most of the folks I interviewed had never spoken of their experiences before even to family, but were willing to share them with me. What a God moment! Anyway, no one died before I could get them a copy of the book, but I remember that was one of my big fears. My most treasured moment as a writer was having an old guy I’d interviewed ask me to autograph a dozen copies of the book to give to family members so they’d know what we went thru. I still choke up at the wonder of that! Thanks for reminding me about it, and to thank God for His pull.
AVA
Thank you for all your comments. God really watched out for me. And I’d like to think that Earl got something out of the message of the book!