DIED 2013
AFTER MY COMMENTARY ABOUT The Skater’s death aired on All Things Considered, I got quite a pile of condolence cards, one of which I remember down to the blue ink and the folded notepaper. Direct and full of feeling, it was from a stranger whose son had died young because of drugs. I wrote back, telling her I was writing a memoir, and she wrote back telling me she was organizing a literary event.
My correspondent turned out to be the founder of the Texas Book Festival, an open-minded, down-to-earth woman whose generosity was legendary. After my reading from First Comes Love at the festival, she brought someone over to meet me at the book table—her friend and cofounder, Laura Bush. Laura bought a copy of the book for each of her twins for their fifteenth birthdays. This definitely made me rethink Laura Bush, and if you ever read it, you will, too.
While running this book festival would have been enough for most people, the cause of literature had to share The Volunteer with the causes of wildflowers, freedom of speech, health care, public art, historic buildings, cancer research, the advancement of women and minorities, and a small army of people she individually mother-henned. All were at a loss when cancer stole her at seventy-three.
Another writer told me how The Volunteer had flown to her aid when her teenage son was having difficulties. These troubles were private, of course, but every town is a small town where such things are concerned. This writer and The Volunteer were at the book festival, heading to her reading, when they were accosted by a vaguely familiar woman. Why hello! she cried. Har yew? As the writer hesitated, the woman launched into her exciting news. USC and Stanford were fighting over her son! You know Billy, don’t you? He plays lacrosse! But what about your boy?
The writer gave her a small smile. He’s still finding his path, she said.
Oh?
At this point, The Volunteer put her arm around the writer and started walking. Honey, when a mother tells you her son is still finding his path, she called over her shoulder, that’s the end of the discussion.
She could start a real conversation or end a fake one with a single sentence. That’s time management.