KFOK interview

I had been anticipating (dreading) my radio interview for weeks. It took at least a month to schedule, so while I was working toward making it happen, I was just fine that it wasn’t. Then suddenly, in the last two weeks of December, it was a go. Careful what you wish for.

On December 19th, Mercedes Fleming, the DJ, came down with a bug, so we postponed it to the day after Christmas. There was, though, a possibility of snow in Georgetown, a chance of yet another delay. Hooray! 

The importance of a great partner is that they hold you accountable, even if they don’t really show their hand. As I made excuses the day before about not making it into Georgetown if it snowed, Rick didn’t even let on that he knew I would welcome another delay. Instead, being a man who has grown up in the snow, he just responded, “not a problem, honey, I can get you there.”

Really? Are you sure? Okay… I guess. God bless this man I’m lucky enough to be married to.

As Sunday morning arrived, I awoke stripped of any final excuses. Since I didn’t have to be there until noon, I had time to join Amy for coffee and her fantastic chocolate bread for breakfast. We cuddled on the couch watching The Unforgivable with Sandra Bullock, a compelling enough movie to keep my mind off the interview. Perfect!

At 10, with no extra time to think, I threw myself together, wearing my favorite sweater and good luck ring, jeans and boots, layers as it would be cold. I grabbed a few books, and out the door we went. As we neared Georgetown, the skies darkened, snow was on the way. A little late, but thanks for the effort.

I jest— in truth, at this point, I welcomed the snow just because I love snow; it’s one of my top favorite experiences. So if it couldn’t save me from this experience, it would help make it that much more special.

I arrived on time at the sweet little radio station in Georgetown. And Mercedes was a doll, so welcoming and calming. Turns out she’s a kindergarten teacher, which for me, was a plus. She calmed me as she began to educate me on what to expect, how we would proceed, etc. 

As we began the interview, my voice quivered a bit, but I found my footing with each minute and actually began to enjoy the experience. About midway, I was having fun, anticipating the next segment that I would be included in. The music in between was lovely, chatting with Mercedes was enchanting, and telling the people listening about my book made me feel as if I was sprouting baby wings that would one day carry me where I needed to go.

The only thing I hadn’t anticipated was being asked to read a segment from my book. I chose quickly what chapter to read as I only had a song or two to decide. I chose Opening Doors. I thought it was a good chapter as it set the tone for the story. The few things I didn’t anticipate in that quick decision was that the last page was an emotional one for me and the first page had a swear word in it. Oops. Not a disaster in either instance; I saw Mercedes’s eyes avert as I said, “What the hell,” but I kept my train on the track and didn’t look back. In those next moments, I silently thanked Dennis, my editor, for helping me keep any thoughts like these to a minimum because I knew there wouldn’t be any more to come, at least not in this chapter.

About midway, the snow was beginning to color the streets outside. I was settling down, which meant I was starting to take in the moment. I was doing my first radio broadcast… about my published book… and it was snowing outside. I would estimate that I had to fight back happy tears at least five times in that hour and a half. I kept telling myself that I would have time to cry about this fantastic gift later. And thank goodness, I was able to concentrate and recover each time.

As we were nearing the end, I realized that one of the last pages I had selected to read contained a sentence about my mom that made me choke up even reading it silently to myself. Luckily I only had moments to consider that reality.

And I was right; I couldn’t read it on the air without choking up. But I felt no apologies in the end. Nothing wrong with emotion, one of my mottos. 

I left the station on a high. The next day I woke up to that snowstorm, more snow than we’ve ever had here. I considered it a gift from my angels up above congratulating me. 

As I wrote this post sitting at my desk looking at a striking pink sunset layered in blues, contrasting with the bright white snow still covering the ground, I understood that, as I suspected, my greatest gifts this holiday season were not wrapped in paper and bows.

Thank you to my family, which includes many who are not blood-related… those souls who nurture and feed me on this journey, who carry me spiritually and receive me whether I fall or triumph. In the end, the blessing is the same, connection, a reason for being… love.