Last Sabbath, I got a call from my husband, who shared with me that he thought I would enjoy going to the Successful Living Expo. He was there to introduce people to the funeral home for which he works. I found it quite amusing and ironic that a funeral home would have a booth at the Successful Living Expo, especially since the word expo is associated with the word exposition, which has denotative connections between ideas of new beginnings, beginnings of musical pieces, the act or example of exposing, or introductions to new things. When we think of death, we usually think of it as the end of someone's life. I also found it interesting that a funeral would be associated with the words success and living.
Making connections between words and what they represent is what I do on a daily basis. A giddy joy echoes through my laugh after my students ask me, "Are you serious?" and I reply, "No, I'm Mrs. Seguin." Knock, knock jokes are funny because of homophones. There is a quirky side of me that gets pleasure from making connections with words. That is partly why I have so much fun teaching English.
Very few of the textbooks I use in my curriculum show the fun side of the English language (yes, there is one). Author Richard Lederer introduced me to the "crazy" side of English. Almost ten years ago, when I was in my car listening to an audio version of his book, Crazy English, I couldn't see what was in front of me because I was laughing to the point of tears. He inspired me to make grammar and writing fun for my students.
With that in mind, it should be no surprise that, when I was traveling through the Successful Living Expo, and came across a booth that had a man dressed in a Shakespearean costume, I became interested. I stopped at the booth and asked what it was that the booth was promoting. The man in the Shakespearean costume pointed to the books on display and said something to the effect of, "I am one of the speakers at the expo, and I am sharing my books." I looked down at one of the books and saw that the author's name was Richard Lederer.
My eyes went back and forth between the name on the book and the person who was right in front of me. In childlike glee, I pointed to the name and giggled, "This is you. I mean, this (pointing to his name) is really you?" I was thrilled and in awe. I don't get that way around many people, but this man's books inspired me to make it possible for my students to laugh often in English class. He made it possible for me to liven up a subject that many people dread. He introduced me to the joy that comes from making connections in language.
I wanted to be more profound and purposeful with my end of the dialogue, but being "star-struck" left me saying things like, "This is so cool! I can't believe this (again, making a dent around the authors name from pointing at it so emphatically) is you!"
It was a memorable moment, and I walked away from the booth with five of his books, all signed, "To Anna- a great teacher. Richard Lederer." Of course, if he punctuated it differently, it might have read, "To Anna. A great teacher, Richard Lederer," but he used a hyphen between my name and "a great teacher." Thanks to punctuation, I know that someone I admire gave me a wonderful compliment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those of you who know me well, you know that, although it would have been satisfying enough to hold the experience as a great memory, I didn't just walk away with a great memory.
This morning, I woke up early, made coffee, and intended to sit in my recliner and read the Bible. I read the Bible often, but sometimes am not as moved as I feel I should be. When I picked up the Bible this morning, I longed to understand what I was about to read, so, as I held the Bible tightly, I prayed for the Holy Spirit's influence on my understanding of the words I would read.
Before the prayer was over, I was moved by the thought, "Last week, you met an author who made you giddy in a way that you didn't know was possible. Today, think about the author of this book, who you will meet someday. How will you feel when you meet, not just the author of this book, but the Creator of language?" I was humbled and in awe, and a terrifying joy swept over me from head to toe.
Of course the connections between my experience last week and my experience this morning were matching like soldiers coming home from battle to their loved ones. In their embrace, I was moved to share this story and the following connections.
The Funeral Home at the Successful Living Expo
If you are reading this, you are living. You are able to take a breath, most of the time without thinking about it. We are alive at this moment, and it is incredible. One day, we will
stop breathing. We will die. What, at the end of our life, will others define (usually at the funeral) as our "success"?
A Funeral Home at an Expo
When we die, is it the end, or is it a beginning of a new life, beginning of musical piece, the act or example of exposing who/what we truly are, and/or introductions to new things?
Meeting the Author
I could have gone my whole life thinking of Richard Lederer as a name, but I got to meet him in person. I had the opportunity to talk to him face-to-face. I experienced a giddy joy that I had not known up until that revelation that I was standing in the presence of someone I admire greatly, someone who inspired me to help others appreciate the connections of language, and someone who called me "a great teacher."
I can exist on this earth and only think of God as a name, but He promises that I will meet Him. I will have the opportunity to see Jesus face-to-face. I look forward to experiencing the terrifying joy that I cannot fathom and will not understand until I am standing in the presence of someone who I admire greatly, someone who inspires me to help others appreciate the connection of relationship that we have in Him, and someone who will hopefully say, "Well done," at the end of my story.
