I know I’ve written about this before, but I will never fail to be amazed at the friends I’ve made via blogging.
Several months back, I received a comment from Kelly Corrigan. Kelly Corrigan! Before that, when Kelly’s book The Middle Place came out, I’d inhaled it in three days–and I don’t do that very often. The book is Kelly’s story of getting breast cancer as a young mom, just as her beloved father is diagnosed with cancer. And if that sounds like a downer of a story, prepare to be surprised. Kelly is such a lively, witty writer that the book is as hilarious as it can be heartbreaking. (Click on that link to the book to read an excerpt and see for yourself.) And once you read it, you’ll never forget the charming character that is her father, George Corrigan. Trust me on that.
I haven’t yet read her new book, Lift, but I’m getting ready to inhale.
Anyway, Kelly wanted to know if she could use a few of my photos for a little project she was getting together. (I believe my response was Are you kidding? Of course!) She also wanted to know if I knew anyone who could help her make the video.
Do I know anyone who can make videos? Um. Yeah.
So I gave Kelly a link to my photostream, and H worked with her on the video. The kid learned a lot about working with a client, being willing to make changes, last minute deadlines. When Kelly was struggling to find enough photos, I sent links to the photostreams of my favorite mama photographers. I wasn’t surprised that she loved the work of kate and molly as much as I do. (Met those two via blogging too. Continually amazed, I tell you.)
Here’s the beautiful video essay that Kelly came up with. You might recognize a few familiar faces in there.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RVq9_la1Hg]Hope your Mother’s Day is just as heartwarming.
i keep meaning to tell you that every time we watch the video, my kids say, there’s T, Lulu, H – just like they’re old friends. thank you again, my friend!
See, there you go proving my point. You can make friends through blogging. We’ve insinuated ourselves into each other’s lives via the internet.
Mind boggling. And beautiful.
I love the essays I’ve heard Kelly Corrigan read (yea, YouTube!), so I definitely need to pick up her books. This essay is no different. I get a little lump in my throat every single time I watch it. Which is a lot, because my youngest keeps crawling up into my lap and asking to “see the movie with me on you back.” (-:
How cool that H worked on the video! And that you and Kate and Molly supplied the beautiful images to accompany her beautiful words! Congratulations to you all.
Kelly is a YouTube goddess. That video, which went public just a week ago, currently has had 18,861 views.
A lot of people have seen your face in the last week!
Many of the photos were also taken by Kelly, I believe. In addition to being a fabulous writer, and a YouTube goddess, she’s also an accomplished photographer. She probably made her camera, too.
Oh my gosh. I just went back to YouTube ten minutes later and it’s up to 20,017 views. Unbelievable.
I watched the video a couple of days ago on Molly’s blog but I somehow missed the preamble before clicking on the video (which I love). I didn’t realize H. produced it! He must be thrilled to have so many viewers. Congratulations to you both.
It’s had so many views that YouTube contacted him about advertising on his channel. (Although, quite honestly, he’d rather have as many views on one of his personal projects rather than a mama video. But that’s a 17-year-old for you.)
Hi Tricia,
You referred me to Kelly’s book, The Middle Place, when my sister got breast cancer, and she and I both read and enjoyed it. Kelly is an inspirational being and I’m glad that through her, many have achieved success. Nice job on the video H!
You reminded me that I forgot to add another of Kelly’s talents: philanthropist. Her website Circus of Cancer is a fabulous resource for people who have a friend with breast cancer.
http://www.circusofcancer.org/
And she’s now doing benefit work for Children’s Hospital, Oakland. A very energetic, inspirational woman.
I’m so glad that your sister enjoyed her book.
I was so happy to get this as a Mother’s day gift. i was feeling very low that day and unappreciated. It, alongside my Mama’s words and gift, made my day. Thanks so much.
That makes me so sad that you were feeling unappreciated on Mother’s Day, Jenny.
Maybe what we should do on Mother’s Day is spend the afternoon with our mother-friends, drinking tea and telling each other how much we admire one another, and what makes each of us such a good mother. (And I could go on and on about you as a mama, my friend.)
That might be better than waiting for other folks to appreciate us! No one appreciates a mother like a mother.
I love your Mother’s Day idea! Our family system is that on Mother’s Day my husband takes the kids out and gives me a day off, and on Father’s Day he gets the fun of taking the kids out for a day! (Plus, I get to celebrate Mother’s Day twice- American one as well as British.)
That is a fantastic Mother’s Day tradition, Sue! So simple and so perfect.