Massai- A Dream Come True!

I was afforded a very unique and touching opportunity this past weekend, thanks to my son Nathan. He asked me if I would be interested in going to a local book signing on Saturday afternoon, and as a fan of pretty much all books and those who are brave enough to undertake the task of writing them, I was eager to attend. But what I quickly learned was that this was no ordinary book signing. This was a labor of love by some amazing people to celebrate Suzette Pulvirenti’s labor of love.

To explain this more clearly, I will borrow the information on the back cover of Massai, Suzette Pulvirentis book, which is available on Amazon.
“Nearing the end of her life, Suzette Pulvirenti began revisiting life lessons and experiences, considering her legacy, and counting her blessings. In this book that she has long dreamt of publishing, Suzette takes you through a magical but very real landscape of love, culture, and dreams. The question of where life is leading us, what directions we should take, and why it all happens are the very questions explored in Massai. Suzette invites you to join her as she explores life’s mysteries and recounts some of her greatest adventures. Quite simply, by enjoying this book, you’re helping to fulfill Sue’s life long dream of becoming a published author and sharing her most sacred and special memories.”

As it was explained to me, Sue had always dreamed of writing a book and having it published. And now as she is facing a terminal illness, she thought that all it would ever be was a dream. But a group of students at Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Arizona was determined to help Sue to achieve her dream. The Red Mountain High School Dreamcatchers Club is a group of students whose ambition is to reach out and help those who are facing an end of life illness achieve their final dream.

In this case, the Dream Catchers worked with Sue and had the book published for her, as well as organizing the surprise book signing for her last Saturday. She had no idea why she was being whisked away in a limo, or that there was a red carpet, cheerleaders, and a bookstore full of fans waiting for the opportunity to meet her and have a copy of her book signed. It was a perfect spring afternoon to make this sweet lady’s dream come true.

From the moment that the door of the limo opened, it was clear that this was far more than Sue ever dreamed of. One of the young men from Dream Catchers was there to gently assist her in climbing out of the limo, and then he proudly escorted her into the book store. And all the while, she was beaming and telling the students that she could not believe that they did all of this for her. And from a few rows away, I was thinking the very same thing.

How many groups of high school teens are willing to spend their final weekend of the Spring Break at a bookstore awaiting a book signing? And that was just their commitment on this particular day. I know that this was an ongoing project that these teens dedicated their time and energy into. But clearly, the looks on their faces, the smiles, and the tears explained all that anyone needed to know. Their love for Sue and their promise to help make her dream come true was all that mattered. I felt so honored and fortunate to be able to witness this moment. It was something that I will never forget.

As someone who has written a book, I am in awe of Sue’s dedication and determination to create this book and share her wisdom with the world while facing, literally, a battle for her life. Her legacy is far more than the words printed on these pages. Her heart and her love have changed the lives of every person who attended that book signing, and clearly all of the teens in the Dream Catchers Club.

I have always been a great believer in the power and importance of words. But I am ashamed to admit that at times I take writing for granted. I see the financial side and can become disenchanted with some of the assignments and work that I have to do, rather than being elated by the fact that I have the pleasure and privilege of writing for a living. Sue reminded me to always See The Good in my situation and appreciate the opportunities that it brings to me.

I would like to thank Sue for this ever so important lesson, and also for her kindness as she signed a copy of her book for me. I am sure that I will learn a great deal more as I continue to read and enjoy her work. As a fellow writer, I would like to also say that I have so much respect for her work and dedication to finishing this book and make her dream come true. She is an inspiration and a true blessing to all of us who are fortunate enough to have met her and all who read her work.

The readers of See The Good are also a truly amazing group of people who are located all around the world. Again, Massai is the name of Sue’s book and the link will take you to it on Amazon. Please feel free to leave any comments that you might have for Sue here on the comments page. I will make sure that she gets them and knows that people all around the world are sharing in her dream come true.

Thank you, Sue, for your dedication, courage and grace and congratulations on becoming a published author!