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Hello Patricia,
May 30th was my birthday. My partner Allan did what few have been able to do before him—he surprised me. He and I got into an Uber, and when we arrived at our GPS location, we were in front of the Gershwin Theater. Wicked was on the marquee. I've wanted to see this play for years, and I probably dropped many hints along the way. I was not only ecstatic about the play, but I was thrilled to feel heard.
In my family, the surprise is a bigger deal than the gift. It's not easy to surprise me, a person who writes thrillers, suspense, and is always trying to figure out what's coming next. This is the reason why Allan and many others hate watching movies with me—I'm always thinking a step or two ahead, and I share out loud.
This year I asked Allan, "What's the plan for my birthday?" He said, "It's a surprise." And to his surprise, I didn't do my usual and expected—no badgering, no looking over his shoulder to try and get a glimpse at his phone or laptop... Yes, I can be unscrupulous when I'm searching for an answer. Instead, I nodded and let it go. This led to an even more wonderful surprise than Wicked, which, by the way, was amazing. I finally got it—letting things BE, letting someone else take the lead, can result in the unexpected, which may not always end in butterflies and cream puffs, but can put you in a place that gives you the room for joy, smiles, and laughter and the impulse to share the moment on Instagram.
Why am I sharing this with you? One writer, one painter, one creative to another, I want you to know that when it comes to our creative work, the answer isn't always to plan, outline, figure things out in advance—sometimes the answer is in the surprise, giving over control, and letting what will be, will be.
Keep creating!
And if you have the chance, go see WICKED!
Pat
(patricia, tricia, TM — call me anything but late for supper)
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