The Luck of the Irish

Photo of shamrocksOn St. Patrick’s Day it’s often said that everybody is Irish. I’m no exception—even if I am only half Irish.

With my fair skin and freckles, and a maiden name honoring the color of shamrocks and leprechaun duds, you can bet I’ll be celebrating all things Irish this St. Patrick’s Day.

Mostly I’ll be celebrating the luck of the Irish, which I’ve often felt I’ve been blessed with much of my life.

Don’t get me wrong or think I’m bragging when I say this because, believe me, I’ve had my share of heart-shattering moments just like everybody else–where I’ve practically had to duct tape my aorta and ventricles back together to keep functioning. Still I’ve always felt ridiculously lucky (all you have to do is read my posts about why I ended up in Aspen (part one and part two), or my post about how I met my husband to understand why).

Here’s another perfect example: several years ago I decided that I was finally going to write a novel that had been kicking around in my head for years. It was time to stop thinking about it, and just do it, as the famous Nike advertisement once espoused.

So I began.

Scene after scene poured out of me and onto my computer. The characters consumed me, the words swirled through me; I even began hearing the soundtrack for my book playing in my head as I wrote it. It was magic.

But then I re-read the pile of chapters I had quickly amassed and realized I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.

After writing into the wee hours one night, on a whim, I decided to go online and take a look at an adult education course catalog for our local community college. The school listed several writing classes, but only one fit my schedule: it was called “Write from the Start,” taught by an instructor named Cork Millner. The catalog merely listed the course title, but no description. I wasn’t sure if this would help me with my novel, but I liked the sound of it, and thought the instructor’s name was charming and quirky (or at least impossible for him to be mean).

This is the lucky part: the class started the very next morning. It was like a sign sent from the Lucky Irish Heavens. Clearly, it was meant to be, so without another thought I jumped off my safe, cozy “do it later” cliff and pushed the SIGN UP button.

____________

The next morning as I got ready for class, I was buzzing with the challenge of a new adventure, but also feeling like an awkward sixth grader on her first day of school. The reality of what I had signed up for suddenly hit me. Nerves made my coffee taste like dirt and my hands turn to ice. I hadn’t been in college in years…okay, make that two decades. I’d been busy running our photo agency.

Between the butterflies in my stomach and the rain dumping outside my window, I could barely force myself out the door. To top it off, when I arrived at school the parking lot was full, offering an easy excuse to bail on the whole absurd idea and go have coffee instead.

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” I tried to bolster myself as I circled the surrounding blocks multiple times looking for parking.

“The best things in life have always happened when you’ve taken a risk,” I continued until I finally found a spot. “Just do it,” I mentally blasted myself as I pushed the door open and stepped out into the pouring rain.

By the time I finally made it to class I was not only late, but drenched and worn out from the effort. The instructor looked at me with raised eyebrows, and a half smirk-smile as I slinked to the back of the room trying to find an empty seat.

Then he wrote his name, Cork Millner, on the chalkboard, followed by the word CREATIVE NONFICTION.

WHAT? Nonfiction? Crap. My Irish luck suddenly felt like anything but.

I guess this wasn’t meant to be after all, I moaned to myself. I want to learn how to write a novel, not magazine articles or memoirs.

I thought about creeping back out the door right then, but sat paralyzed in indecision and pride. I’d already made a pathetic entrance into the class. I couldn’t bring myself to make a humiliating exit too.

So I stayed. And I listened. And I looked around. In no time I realized that the witty and seasoned instructor standing at the front of the class, who also happened to be a former Navy fighter pilot and the author of numerous books and hundreds of magazine articles, could teach me a thing or two about the art of writing, no matter what type it was.

Thus began one of the luckiest leaps of faith I’ve ever taken. Not only did Cork Millner teach me the most important things I’ve learned about structure, imagery, and the business of being a writer, he also taught me dozens of things I didn’t even know I wanted, or needed to know: particularly that creative nonfiction is my passion.

Blogging, sharing Jeffrey’s photography adventures from around the world and creating an ecclectic mix of health, fitness, food and feature profiles has filled my creative cereal bowl with a pile of sweet, colorful Lucky Charms.

It was lucky that I discovered Cork’s class. It was lucky that I did not bail on it when it was easier to go have coffee, and it was lucky that I stayed open to possibility.

Because of that, an extraordinary mentor was dropped into my life–one who offered me the perfect amount of encouragement, criticism, and wisdom, all at the right time.

Not only that, but Cork’s class also offered a place to meet and learn from dozens of other writers far more talented than me–all kindred spirits who cannot not write, and who feel compelled to share their ideas with the world. Many of these people are doing extraordinary things in addition to writing—like helping people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, working to eliminate plastic bags in Africa, helping families grappling with cancer,  or showing people with dyslexia that it’s possible to become a professional writer.

Photo of author, Cork Millner

Cork and his class will always remind me that luck rarely comes without taking risks, and even more important, the harder I work, the luckier I become.

So here’s to celebrating the luck of the Irish, and a man named Cork for whom I will always be grateful for making a staggering difference in my life (and no, that’s not because I’ve been nipping on Irish whiskey).

Thank you Cork, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day everybody!

Drop me a comment! I’d love to know who or what in your life has made you feel lucky!

19 thoughts on “The Luck of the Irish

  1. The Universe has a way of putting us where we’re supposed to be. I went to a workshop on pitching film and TV ideas back in ’88. I’d signed up for it, but when the day came it was raining and I thought of lots of excuses not to go. It’s a good thing I did go because I ended up making a new friend who opened up all sorts of personal and business opportunities for me, which eventually led me to a country life here in the Santa Ynez Valley that I could not have imagined. That’s right. We’re neighbors.

    • Jayne, welcome to my blog! Thanks for taking the time to swing by and leave a comment. It sounds like we have much in common, not only in how the universe put us in the right place at the right time, but where we ended up in CA! I hope your first day of spring was just as gorgeous in the Valley as it was here today.

  2. As a former student of Cork, I also feel lucky to have had him as a teacher. Without his encouragement and praise, I would have never believed that I could actually consider myself a writer. And I’m also lucky for Cork’s class because that’s where I met you!!!

    • Cork has been a catalyst for many positive things in our lives. You are one of those writers I mention in my post, far more talented than me, whom I’ve learned a bucketload from along the way. As Deborah says (below), I’m glad we both landed where we were meant to be!

  3. Call it luck . . . call it serendipity . . . call it following some inner sense that surprised you with knowing something you didn’t quite know you wanted/needed. (Oh, that’s a mouthful!). Seriously, it’s not that different from inadvertently making a left turn instead of a right one, and landing just where you’re supposed to be. Somehow, there’s a little bit of that ‘long-distance runner’ mindset, too. I’m here, I got this far — why not go the distance. Happy St. Patrick’s Day. And Happy Spring. ;-)

    • The funny thing is, I know if that class had not been scheduled for the very next morning, I would have come up with multiple excuses why I was too busy or too (fill in the blank) to take it. The timing inspired me to follow my gut without too much thought. And yes, thankfully, I landed where I was meant to be.

  4. I don’t think there’s space enough (or more accurately, readers’ patience enough) for me to list all that makes me feel lucky. But, I truly love and agreed with Tina above that blogging makes me “feel closer to living a purpose.” It is invigorating. I feel like that Chaos Theory hypothetical butterfly flapping my wings in the air. I’ll never know if I created a great storm; I am just flapping my wings…doing what comes natural. It makes me smile, and yes, feel lucky that I have this hope, this possibility in my life.

    • Wow, that’s fabulous you are swimming in gratitude for all that makes you happy and lucky. Blogging has also opened up many wonderful and unexpected connections, ideas, and opportunities for me. I never would have imagined it before I hit the PUBLISH button for the first time. I’m going to flit on over to your blog and check it out. Thanks for flapping your wings here!

  5. Thank you for sharing your “luck” in finding Cork and learning what you didn’t know you wanted to learn!

    Many people and things make me feel lucky. I’m lucky to have found the right man, I’m lucky to have been adopted by beautiful cats, who opened up a whole new world for me.

    Right now, I’m feeling incredibly lucky that I started a blog, got serious about writing and connected with people like you. It took me a long time to have the courage to start blogging, but the connections I’ve made to other people and the things I’ve learned make me feel incredibly lucky. I feel closer to living a purpose.

    I hope you had a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day!

    • Tina, I’m glad you appreciated this post, and I’m happy that your writing/blogging has brought you such joy. It has been great connecting with you. We all have much to feel lucky about in our lives.

  6. Ditto to Cork and his class. What a great tribute! I, too, owe so much to Cork’s guidance and encouragement, this man shall always have a place in my heart. He was the first person to call me A WRITER, which clicked my switch into high gear. And if all goes as planned, my first book will be released on July 4th. But my luck didn’t stop there. I met you, Becky, and had the honor of hearing you read some of your wonderful writing. I still can’t believe Oprah didn’t take your story on “the jacket.” I forgot the title but remember the story!

    Here’s to Cork on this St. Patrick’s Day!!! Lift your glass of green beer in his honor. :)

    • Isn’t it funny how one tiny comment scrawled in red ink across your paper can make a difference in how you feel about your writing? I think all Cork wrote the first time I turned a chapter in was, “You are a fine writer,” and that was all it took for me to start believing in my abilities. Silly, but true. So, yes, my WRITER friend, we have much to celebrate. Your upcoming book is extra big cause for celebration!!

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