strange encounter

Life is weird.

Last week when traveling to Portland I had to get a taxi to take to the airport since my company car would not start. Anyways, this taxi driver showed up a few minutes late but was very kind and helped get my bags in the trunk and we were on our way. I was thankful I had a woman driver, it was only 5am so I was a little nervous about taking a cab this early.

She was a quirky woman from the start- she had a contagious laugh though and what I would eventually find out about her life, I was shocked she had any laughter left in her.
We got talking and don't ask me how but she shared with me that her Son, at 52 years of age (yes, this taxi driver was 70+ years old), died due to a kidney disorder of some sort. She shared me with me how he was so loved by his work, a local country club and how the members paid for the funeral and re-did her bathroom to make it more accessible for her handicap Son. She was in tears of joy talking about her Son who passed. I shared with her my story about Mom and Dad. Why not, she's been through a sad loss and seemed sweet. She was of course shocked but seemed so calm when she said to me, "I've been through a lot throughout my life; Prison (oh-great and she's my driver!), Death of loved ones, married 5 times, gave birth 8 times, Poverty, I was a Madam in Kentucky for years, etc) and I now put everything into God's hands--It's the only way I can go on". We talked about me one day wanting to write a book, god only knows about what, a story to their Grandchildren-Aydan and Elle. They one day have to know but I want them to know the good stuff too. What amazing people they were. And she then goes on to tell me that she just finished her memoir and it was published a few months back, "I have a copy in the trunk if you'd like one". "Heck yeah I want one", I replied. She added the $15.00 for the book to my cab fare, signed the book with a beautiful message "brighter days ahead, Patsy Maloney" and handed me her card with her writers information and says, "I think he can help you". I truly believe I was put in that cab to meet her to read her book to hear her tragic story and to ultimately be connected to a writer. I read her entire 300+ page memoir on my flight to Portland. Barely looked up to get a glass of water and some pretzels. This book was tragic yet she came out on top... "Making of a Madam" by Patsyann Maloney http://makingofamadamtemp.homestead.com/home.html

And the man featured in the link above who helped write her book is the man I am having coffee with today after work! I have zero expectations. He has turned down over 6 projects in the last year. He was intrigued by my story. He only knows the tragic part of it though. Until then, I was skipping through life... Who knows if I ever really will "write something", but I do know one thing, I am determined to honor my parents life and to be certain Elle and Aydan understand all of this one day-we must all be educated on medications and mental illness...we weren't....maybe I can help someone one day. But with only a year and half since their death, it is way too painful right now. I still haven't healed. Every since they died, I have always had "something else to think about"- pregnancy, Elle, etc. I am not even certain I have really faced the fact that they are gone. But they are.

More and more I realize though, God puts you in places for a reason- whether it be a cab to be linked to a writer to chase a dream or 4 hours closer to home in Cincinnati so I could spend my parents last 2 years with them, it's very strange.........

It's been an exhausting week. I had a stomach bug which caused me to miss a day of work, Elle caught pink eye then had to miss another 1/2 day of work, I am tired and busy... BUT, I had a few hours out with girlfriends last night over Wine at a local shop that was open after hours to host a purse making event. You need those few hours every so often. And now a weekend at home with the Fam....hope it's a Sunny one!

Love,
Melissa