in my early 20s, my life wasn’t the easiest.
my father was terminally ill.
i pursued my master’s full-time while working full-time as a classroom teacher,
burning the proverbial candle at both ends.
i left my home at 7, and returned home past 10 most nights.
my migraines were constant.
i mended a broken heart just before meeting the man to become my husband.
one night, during this chaotic time, around the holidays after i turned 23,
my best friend anna flew in to chicago.
the night she was to return to new york, she turned to me:
“my mom wanted you to have this.”
inside the box, was a frame.
and in that frame
a slip of paper from an ordinary fortune cookie
“there is still yet time to take a different path.”
also in that box, was a letter, from her mom,
explaining how she came upon the fortune:
a total stranger gave it to her in a chinese restaurant
one night
after her husband
stormed out of the restaurant
during a fight.
in the letter, she stated that I had to
pass it along to someone
when I felt they needed it.
she felt i did.
years later, i did pass it on.
but the story still moves me.
it meant the world to me at the time.
it was the kick in the head
i needed to move on.
ten years later.
i realize it’s never to late
to change course
to move
to flush your degrees down the toilet
and pursue a different direction.
there’s something brewing here
at the estate
that is big.
so big, i wish i could share it.
but then,
it would ruin the surprise
of the new path
i have now chosen,
friends.
What a wonderful message that was passed along to you. I’m intrigued about your new path ~ can’t wait to hear about it.
Thank you for sharing–your timing is perfect for me. So excited for you and your new adventure. I’m embarking on one myself and am quite excited and somewhat scared too. Good luck to you!
Awww, come on now. You can’t leave us hanging like that. How bout you just email me the big secret and I’ll consider it a push gift?
That’s a beautiful story. (and obviously sad too)
But I can’t wait to see what’s in store for you!! You deserve great things!
http://stilettosanddiaperbags.blogspot.com/
That’s a very moving story! Can’t wait to hear wad up at the estate yo!
Anna’s mom sent you the right message at the right time. Now I can’t wait to hear the rest of the story.
I love the fortune cookie story. What a wonderful thing for a stranger to do and that your mom’s friend passed it on. I do believe in fortunes. When we got married I decided I wasn’t going to buy anymore clothes until I got pregnant and sometimes when I would see something cute it was hard not to buy it. I was 37 and we really weren’t sure if I could get pregnant. Then my fortune cookie said “You will soon have some new clothes” and I got knocked up. So there can be something to fortune cookies. I have the fortune in Gordon’s baby book.