It started with an invitation some time back from the ever-lovely Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle to be a part of her five-part series, Catholic Mom's Cafe. Donna invited me to discuss the subject of miscarriage with her, and given that it's an important topic to me, I said yes.
I used to travel somewhat regularly. In my pre-conversion, pre-kid, businesswoman days, I had to attend trade shows and I knew how to pack a bag, hop on a plane, hail a taxi, and avoid the hilariously overpriced drinks in the hotel fridge. I have forgotten all of that (except avoiding the overpriced drinks.) When we went to Florida last year, it was the first time I had flown in years (we normally drive our rickety van everywhere), but at least that trip brought me up to speed on airport security and quart-size ziplock bags.
Moving on....
Ramona wasn't thrilled with (or used to) the idea of my going out of town, so my instinct was to schedule as little time away from the family as possible. I drove to Omaha late Monday afternoon and spent the first hour-to-ninety minutes slogging through a sleet-and-snowstorm for which I can only be grateful as I'm sure I shaved a goodly time off my stay in purgatory. Monday night was delightful -- time spent with friend, Jack, and Orange Leaf frozen yogurt. Flight on Tuesday morning, arrival in Birmingham about 3:15 p.m., transport provided by kindly EWTN driver to comfortable EWTN guest house.
Here I am (that's me behind the camera), missing all the other ladies and their group pictures:
As it turned out, all the other guests taped their segments on Tuesday; since mine was taped Wednesday morning and one of the women had to leave before I arrived, there was not a single moment when all six of us -- Donna, Lisa Hendey, Lisa Mladinich, Marge Fenelon, and Woodeene Koenig-Bricker -- were together. Thus, the magic of photo manipulation:
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| Lisa M., Donna, Woodeene, Marge, Lisa H., and me, hovering in the corner, always late to the party. |
Can I express how lovely these women are? Talking, laughing, praying, sharing meals, swapping stories personal and professional, supporting one another ... my short time at EWTN was more than a chance to have a discussion with Donna-Marie about the pain of and healing from miscarriage, as tremendous as that opportunity was (and my prayer is that the show can reach and help many women.) It was also a chance to share time with my cyber colleagues, to hear their voices in person, to express my admiration for them, and to know that the Body of Christ is alive and moving among us.
Wednesday, after my taping, I had time for a little final chatting with Lisa Hendey and Marge, then Mass at the EWTN chapel, lunch, and back to the airport. I was home by 11 pm Wednesday night.
And now that I know Ramona can survive a couple of days without me -- more importantly, now that she knows that -- maybe next time I'll get to town a little sooner, have time to tour the EWTN studio, and not have to hover in group pictures.
3 comments:
It was a whirlwind of a time and you were so much a part of it even though you are absent in these pictures! I will send you the photos of us on the set and you can add it to your blog post. In a rush at the moment - leaving for a press conference - but just had to send my love and thanks to you for being part of my series on EWTN! Next time I will try to arrange for us all to be together. :)
God bless and love,
Donna-Marie
I am so grateful that you spoke about miscarriage, you do it with such sensitivity to the feelings of those of us who, years later, still hurt from the silent loss.
Donna, prayers for all that you have coming up in the next week! I know you have a lot going on.
Leticia, thanks for your kind words! God bless you.
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