When my boys were small we had a favorite winter book called “Something is Going to Happen.” As the family wakes up on a cold winter day, each of them senses that “something is going to happen.” A young child gets dressed in silence, the baby lies still, listening from his crib, the mother and father look at one another knowingly, the dog sniffs the air. One by one, the family members gather in hushed early morning stillness, and then open the door to gaze out upon the first snow of winter.
We loved reading that book aloud, loved the rhythm of the simple sentences, the sense of mystery and suspense that builds around something as natural as snow, the way the author invites us to tune in and pay attention to the subtle energies at work in the world around us.
This week, I thought of that book for the first time in years, the title running unbidden through my head. “Something is going to happen.”
It wasn’t an imminent snow fall that stirred this feeling, however, but the equally mysterious process by which word of mouth spreads. Like those first, drifting flakes of snow, it starts slowly at first, one person telling another person. And then, just as a storm seems to gather its own force, so too does news or information take on a life of its own, traveling at breakneck speed through the ether.
It started Tuesday, when I received an e-mail from the videographer who filmed my YouTube reading, alerting me to the fact that our seven-minute video had suddenly had over 50,000 views.
“You should write a little blog post about that,” he suggested. “Because that’s a lot of views for a month and a half.”
I meant to do as he suggested, but I never got around to it. The number did surprise me, though. It sure did seem like a lot of views. “How cool,” I thought. And then, it occurred to me, “Something is going to happen.”
I got busy with other things–cleaning the pantry, sending petitions around about the Supreme Court’s most recent decision, working on a magazine article. Meanwhile, my in-box was filling up with requests from other writing mothers, asking if they could post the video on their sites.
“Sure,” I typed back. “I’d be honored.” And I am. There is nothing better, as a writer, than hearing that words you’ve written have resonated with someone else.
The other day, I was browsing through the new releases at our local bookstore. “Do you have time to sign some books?” the sales clerk asked. “Sure,” I answered, rummaging in my purse for a pen. “How’s it doing?” She told me that, to her surprise, they’d had to reorder seven times. Good news for any author, of course. And I found myself thinking again, “Something is going to happen.”
It’s Saturday afternoon now, and I’m just back, tired and well exercised and hungry, from a long snowshoe hike with a friend and our dogs. The ingredients for the dinner I’m about to make are sitting out next to the sink–carrots, spinach, rice. In an hour or so my husband will come home, a friend will arrive, and we’ll eat dinner in the kitchen and watch a Netflix movie on TV. Nothing too exciting, and yet I’m glad to be here, settling in for a quiet night at home.
But, before I get started chopping vegetables, I wanted to sit down here for a minute, check my email, and write something on my website. I had something else in mind to say, actually. But I’ve just taken a look at my YouTube link. And then, just to be sure, I double-clicked and checked it again.
104, 443 views.
I don’t think a hundred thousand YouTube hits qualifies as viral. Certainly it’s nowhere near in the league of such online sensations as Susan Boyle, David After the Dentist, and World’s Fastest Drinker. But it does mean that a whole lof of people are taking time out of their own busy days to watch a film about living in the moment and loving our kids as they are. The only way that number jumped from 50,000 to 100,000 in four short days is because people have been inspired to share the film with their friends. Now, it seems that they are also buying books, and sharing those, too.
The numbers are not huge, and no one’s under any illusion that “The Gift of an Ordinary Day” is going to be the next “Eat, Pray, Love.” But I have to admit it to you: What’s going on here is lovely, and deeply gratifying. And who knows? Maybe the trend will continue. I still do have that feeling: something is going to happen.
Oh, and p.s. If you’re reading this and haven’t seen the video, or if you wish to forward it, here’s the direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olSyCLJU3O0
Hi K, you might want to post a link to the video on this blog as a PS…that way people can pass it around without having to search for it again. WAY COOL…I thought you were going to say Oprah called again. xop
I’m so excited for you, Katrina! I feel it, too… that something that is about to happen (and I also thought, "Oh, she’ll be in Chicago before long."). I love imagining your thoughts, images and words ricocheting around the universe. I’m looking forward to watching you continue to soar! Best, Claudia
Dear Katrina,
A friend of mine sent me your YouTube video yesterday. I had no idea what I was about to watch and your name didn’t ring a bell. Obviously, she loved the video so much that she wanted to share it with all of her friends. I loved it, too, so much, in fact, that I posted it on facebook today. After watching the video, I found your Web site and learned you have published the book, The Gift of an Ordinary Day. Curious, I began reading a few pages in it, loved it, and decided to order it. It was then that I noticed you are also the author of Mitten Strings for God, a book I bought many years ago when my kids were little and I wanted to slow down and enjoy their growing-up years. That book gave me a lot of inner peace and affirmed what I was trying to do within our own family. Thank you so much for your thoughts on raising a family and living in the moment. You write so eloquently about topics that must touch every parent’s heart and I thank you for that. I’m very much looking forward to reading your book. Greetings from Minnesota,
Marina
Hi Katrina–What wonderful news! I love your comparison of the news of your video views to snowflakes falling. I look forward to meeting you in Naperville at Anderson’s Bookshop–I just know it’s going to happen!
Katrina,
I read and loved the book months ago (and wrote to tell you so), so I was tickled when a friend sent me the link last Friday. It made me tear up all over again. And yes, I passed it on. I am not all all surprised to see those hits click upwards.
I wonder if you might post the text of your reading somewhere, for those whose computer’s don’t play video well. (I know a few people who still have dial-up.) It so beautifully sums up the essence of your book.
Thanks again and all the best to you and your family.
If something’s gonna happen, it couldn’t happen to a more deserving person. The message is one that needs to be heard. There are mamas all over who need to be reminded of the majesty of their job. I hope the number hits 200K before the week is out. It makes us all more aware of our influence every day on these little people (now big people!) we’ve been entrusted with. I can’t wait to see what other somethin’s are going to come your way in this exciting new year. 🙂
Judy
justonefoot.blogspot.com
Congratulations–something IS happening. Thanks for posting. I’m going to forward it on as well.
Katrina,
A friend shared your You Tube video link with me, and I am very glad she did. Could you please tell me the author of the book "Something Is Going to Happen"? This sounds like the same book my parents read to me as a child, and I’d love to check it out to see if it is the same story.
Thank you and best wishes for your continued success! You truly have a gift. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Katrina,
Thanks for sharing your video. I’m a 40 year-old father of one and your message touched me tremendously. Something DID happen within me!
You are an astonishing woman, Katrina. You always have been, generous, gentle, wise. It has been a real joy for me to observe the evolution of your work. Your capacity to be honest, to be so deeply true, is a gift that you have always shared. Now that I have my books out there, and my own sons, I think often of words you said to me once, regarding that balance between work and life. You have always been a light to me. Thank you.
Hi Katrina! A friend sent me the link to your video–she knew I’d love it, and I did. I run a website called The Power of Moms (www.powerofmoms.com), and our whole focus is to help mothers become the women they’re supposed to be. We do book summaries on our site, and I’d love to feature your books and this video. You have done a beautiful job capturing these precious moments. My four children are all under 10, so I’m still in the "exhausted mother" stage, but your words really do help me to cherish my reality more. I hope we can get in touch and possibly do some collaboration in the future. Our organization is looking to do conferences and online webinars in the future, and I think you would be such a wonderful presenter! Take care, and feel free to contact me if you think there is something I could do for you.
So moving. I have been dealing with these same thoughts lately, as my only child will turn 18 on Monday. Beautifully put!
Fellow New Englander and author, Crescent Dragonwagon, whose mother apparently wrote the book you reference, posted this link on facebook this morning–and should have done so with a warning:
Because I was eating a sandwich while I added another digit to your U Tube count–and I didn’t just need tissues–but a trash can. Who can eat when faced with the inevitable truth of how fleeting and precious this day-to-day is.
It was the night that I finished reading your book, the gift of an ordinary day, that I sat in the bathrooom with my 9 year old as he took his bath, even though he has done it by himself for ages now. I’m so glad I did. I’m so glad you’ve reminded us why.
With your permission, I too would like to post a link to your U Tube piece on my Empty(ing) Nest Blog where I wrote a recommendation for your book awhile back.
Thanks TOO for illuminating the "something is going to happen" feeling. We all need to hear about that and be reminded to "allow" it to come upon us like the whisper of snow.
Blessings…
This quote just came on twitter, thought we could all use the antidote:
It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn’t. ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
Thank you. I’m a 43 year old mom of two preschoolers and have found myself yelling a lot, counting down the minutes till nap or bedtime and not appreciating being in the moment. I love them dearly and gush about them to anyone who will listen when I’m not with them, but honestly wasn’t very nice when I was- so little patience. I have felt very guilty about this and your u tube video (that a friend posted on FB) has REALLY helped me see ‘the future’ and what i’m missing in the present. It’s been over a month that I first saw it and I feel like I have reallly changed for the better with my kids. Thank you for your beautiful, funny insightful words.
Thank you. I’m a 43 year old mom of two preschoolers and have found myself yelling a lot, counting down the minutes till nap or bedtime and not appreciating being in the moment. I love them dearly and gush about them to anyone who will listen when I’m not with them, but honestly wasn’t very nice when I was- so little patience. I have felt very guilty about this and your u tube video (that a friend posted on FB) has REALLY helped me see ‘the future’ and what i’m missing in the present. It’s been over a month that I first saw it and I feel like I have reallly changed for the better with my kids. Thank you for your beautiful, funny insightful words.
Hi Katrina,
A friiend of mine forwarded your video to me about a month ago and since then I have sent it to many of my friends and told them to have a box of tissues nearby while they watch it. Immediately after I saw your video I previewed your book on my Kindle and could not not stop reading. Hence i bought the book and finshed it yesterday. What you wrote was so relevant to what has been going on in my own life. My only child, is a college sophmore and he is five hours away. My husband and I have both been struggling, this year in particular ,with our empty home and the book helped me to realize how many other parents are experiencing similar feelings. My son has been home for Spring break this week (more like in and out of the house between friends and girl friend obligations) and it has made me appreciate even the short visits that we have together. Thank you for sharing glimpses of your life with so many and thank your family for allowing you to share glimpses of theirs. I was thinking of buying a couple more copies to give to my friends for Mother’s Day. What a great gift that would be!