Getting Married and Other Mistakes by Barbara Slate, this month's selection in my www.fromlefttowrite.com book club, is my first graphic novel. We would have called it a comic book in my generation but now there are complete books illustrated in this manner. If I were talented in the visual arts, I would do a graphic novel of how I met John Lynner Peterson. Alas, I am not, so what follows is the story in narrative.
The story of how
John and I met will give middle aged single women hope that the right person
exists for all of us. For most of his career, John worked at the intersection
of religion and media. In 1998, John
produced the Fiftieth Anniversary Party for the World Council of Churches in Zimbabwe
at which Nelson Mandela spoke. Doug Smith, a young minister, who assisted him
on this event said, “John, if you ever move into doing work on the Web, call
me.” Within a few years, the Hallmark Channel hired John to start a website
called faithandvalues.com. John thought the job required a move from Chicago to the Manhattan
headquarters for this job. He then received the news that they had chosen to
locate this venture in Lexington ,
Kentucky because of a random
conversation that occurred on an airplane. (Are you getting the picture here
about coincidences?) John responded, “You’re moving me where?” Familiar with Manhattan , he felt
comfortable there. But Lexington ,
KY ? He had never heard of the
place.
As requested, John called Doug and hired him
to assist in development of the website. Lexington
didn’t feel as strange to Doug since he had gone to seminary there and served
Newtown Christian Church as Student Pastor. As the dominoes rolled, Doug hired
Martha Johnston for faithandvalues.com, a young woman who attended his youth
group at that congregation and had since graduated from college.
John, Doug and
Martha busied themselves with a Web presence when one day a light bulb
brightened above Martha’s head. She called me on a Monday at that same Newtown
Christian Church where I served as her pastor. “Brenda, you need to meet the
Vice President of our company.” Gutsy for a twenty-something to call her
fiftyish pastor and suggest a hook-up.
“I’m game,” I
replied. “I’m not dating anyone.”
Thursday evening
of that week, my cell phone rang while I ate out with my sister. Martha
initiated the conversation with, “Brenda, give me a pep talk. I know the timing
is right because he’s still here and the work day is over but I’m nervous. I
feel like I’m asking him out myself and he’s old enough to be my dad.”
“Martha, get your
ass into his office. I’m not getting any younger!” (Ass is a biblically correct
term.) So she did.
John emailed me
and we made arrangements to meet on Saturday evening. But on Friday evening, as
I sat around in day-old makeup, my sermon just finished, (see how exciting life
is for single women in ministry) I decided to call the phone number in his
email to confirm that I would meet him at the designated time and restaurant. I
assumed I would get a voice mail since people with real lives go out on Friday
evening. What a surprise when he answered his phone.
“I just wanted to
make sure you received my email confirming tomorrow night,” I stammered.
“Yes.
But, hey, I haven’t eaten yet. Want to go get a bite to eat now?” he asked.
“I’ve already
eaten but I will have a glass of wine while you eat.”
“Ok, let’s meet at
Ramsey’s on High Street.”
I knew he was a
Northerner, so I blurted out, “Don’t you Yankees pick your dates up?”
A
bare thirty minutes later, I had thrown on some walking shorts and was letting
my dog do his business when John drove up and got out of the car.
“Oh
my god, you’re gorgeous!”
The photo Martha sent me so I could see him in advance! |
How
could I not fall in love with a man who delivers that opener? I later learned
his expectation could not have been much lower. Fifty-something unmarried
minister translated to him as over-weight, hairy legs with a bit of hair on her
upper lip, a few wild ones on her chin, no make-up, sensible shoes and a very
no-nonsense hairstyle. He later apologized for his unflattering
characterization of female clergy.
After
dinner and ice cream, we sat on my deck and sipped tequila until two in the
morning. I had never “sipped tequila” in my life. We both knew that first night
that this pairing felt ordained, serendipitous, divinely inspired and meant to
be--take your choice; color your own dream. When John walked through a hallway
of my house where I had hung photos of my life in the arts, he said, “I’ve been
looking for you.” Our mutual love of a variety of the arts provides just one of
the lenses through which we see each other. John’s genuine recognition of me
satisfies an identity hunger at my core.This post is inspired by Getting Married and Other Mistakes by Barbara Slate. This graphic novel offers a raw, yet humorous look at what happens to Jo after a surprise divorce. Join From Left to Write on Thursday, June 28 as we discuss Getting Married and Other Mistakes by Barbara Slate. I received a review copy of the and all opinions are my own.
Beautiful story!!! In Judaism, we call that beshert, or fate! I'm a believer!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy. I believe it too!
DeleteI love how so many people and twists and turns can be the path to something so amazing.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's interesting whether we think a higher power had a hand in something when it is simple or when it is complex. Or is it always?
DeleteWhat a sweet story! Thanks for sharing and I'm so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Charlotte!
DeleteGETTING MARRIED AND OTHER MISTAKES What a great matchmaker Martha was. It's no surprise that John was shocked upon seeing you for the first time. Hot fifty-something females in the clergy is almost an oxymoron. Your marriage to John was not a mistake although so many marriages are. May you both continue to love and cherish each other until your last days.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the wonderful comment, Peggy. Yes, our marriage is far from a mistake, it is a blessing and I'm grateful for John every day.
DeleteHope you are well. So pleased to connect with you electronically though we live far away now.
I love the story of how you two met! I know exactly how you feel about finding your perfect match (:
ReplyDeleteSo glad, Janin, that you know this wonderful feeling!
Delete