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Friday
Jan162009
Gather
Did you watch the Golden Globes on Sunday night? I did, even though it interrupted my important schedule of worrying and fretting about my first teaching session the next morning.
(Truly. Earlier in the evening we were supposed to go somewhere and I told G, "I can't go! I'm teaching tomorrow!" And he said "But aren't you all ready? Aren't you done preparing?" And I said, "Yes but I have to stay home so I can worry about it. I've got some serious stewing to do that requires my complete attention." So silly.)
Back to the Golden Globes. Kate Winslet (love her!) won her first and her second GG awards in one night and in her second speech she was flummoxed and aflutter and verklempt and said to herself several times:
Gather.
What a great word. It's my new pocket-sized personal pep talk. And I needed it right then. Gather, Annie.
Speaking of gather, I heard a great This I Believe broadcast the other day when I was shuttling kids around. It was by a man who lives in Paris who invites as many people as can fit in his house for dinner for a feast every Sunday night. The first 50-60 people who call get a place--strangers, friends, artists, truck drivers, writers, cartoonists, retirees, editors. There's even a link on the site so you can reserve a place at his table. He says "I believe in introducing people to people...I believe we should know each other." How cool is that? I'm so inspired by his Sunday salons...I might have to try something like that.
Gather. Yes I will: gather my wits, my thoughts. Gather people.
(And now the word gather looks and sounds very strange to me. Huh. Weird.)
Friday, January 16, 2009
Reader Comments (14)
I can't wait to hear how your class went. I'm sure you were fabulous.
I wish we could gather together.
I can't wait to hear how your class went. I'm sure you were fabulous.
I wish we could gather together.
i will be gathering around your blog in the next day or two to hear all about day one as a professora extrordinaire.
is that extraordinaire? where's the foreign spell check when you need it!
I have been waiting for the post about your teaching experience! I am SO the same way as you...I have to devote time to worrying about something. So silly it is.
I loved her speeches too, and my attention was caught by her use of the word gather. I do that all the time. I feel my thoughts and attentions spiraling away from me, or there's just too many thoughts and feelings to process all at once--a big brilliant burst as something extraordinary happens-- and I MUST gather them back in somehow so I can make sense of them. FOCUS has been my peptalk, but I do like "gather."
I'm definitely a worrier too, although I'm sure you were fantastic. And I love the Sunday salons! That is very, very cool.
(and the more I write a word, the more it suddenly looks very wrong to me. "Is that the right word? Is that how you really spell it?" Funny trick of the mind...)
I think Kate is one my girl crushes. I LOVE her. I want to BE her. Missed the speeches though. Dang.
And I think gather is an excellent word. What say you to gathering in Paris and having dinner with some strangers? Let's go, girlfriend!
Kate is stunning! Can't wait to hear how class went. I'll be the first to sign up for your dinner party! I'd love to gather!
Hope your gathering is going well Annie.
Have a great weekend.
Lindsay
only you would come up with something that positive and profound from the GGs.
I've been in a quitting blogging mode lately and every time I get ready to just delete the whole thing I think of you and how I'd miss your sweet comments. xoxo, m
I heard that broadcast too! Loved it! It is always good to be reminded that there is absolutely nothing more important in life then the relationships we have with people.
Good luck to you!
Can I steal it? I love that personal mantra.
i too love kate winslet and so glad she won two awards! gather is such a cool word. problem is -- doesn't sound as cool when i say it. damn that accent! why can't i sound cool too? (sorry for the swear). ;)
Yes, she was refreshingly overwhelmed. Loved her dress. Love her spirit. Love that she can express love to both her husband and her dear friend/onscreen lover Leo. Such overflowing joy. Saw her on Oprah the next day. She and Emma Thompson (over-the-top gestures, etc.) are my faves.
I missed them, but "Gather," I love that. I can think of umpteen occasions when saying that to myself would be appropriate.