The Upper Hudson Highlands is a lesser known area of New York State. Whenever I mention the region to native New Yorkers, especially those from ‘The City’, a blank stare of ‘where the heck is that’ shadows across their face. Interesting how we can know so little about our own back yard, as the ‘Highlands’ are a short one hour train ride from the Big Apple.
Our friends Lynn and Norm live in Garrison, a train stop located on the Hudson River directly across from West Point. Sail boats cruise by on those leisurely summer days circled by the occasional faster moving craft. The area is known for its steep rolling hills, heavily forested and steeped in history dating back to the days of the 13 colonies. We have visited there now on a half dozen occasions, in all four seasons.
Part of the attraction is a place which has become a second home to us, a log cabin nestled into a rocky outcropping on Old Albany Post Road, a former stage coach route. This of course is where Lynn and Norm reside. It is hard to believe we met them only 3 short years ago while on an Alaskan Cruise. Have you noticed that when you are older, the people you meet seem familiar to you and that the friendships that form are more authentic? That’s what the four of us share.
Yesterday, October 17th was Lynn and Norm’s 11th wedding anniversary. That is one of the reasons why we are here – to celebrate.
The invitation was initiated by another friend however, one of my coaching colleagues Janet Wise. A few weeks ago, Janet and I had connected, and as so often happens on our coaching conversations, began to discuss what’s next. She shared that she was about to turn 50 and that she had not decided how she wanted to celebrate this occasion. It needed to be special, something unusual. We brainstormed and an idea was born, seeded by our conversation about the launch of ME FIRST.
“I’ll have a ME FIRST luncheon,” she announced, “and invite those women who have significantly influenced my life. And, I’ll gift them each with a copy of ME FIRST. How cool would that be?” I was both shocked and pleased – what a way to honor your friends and what a gift to me. ‘Will you come she asked?” I think she expected me to say no, after all NYC is a 7 hour drive. But how could I refuse?
Jim and I arrived at Grand Central Station 11 am Saturday morning. The day was damp and cold, rain spitting around us. We stopped for a Starbuck’s fix and while in the coffee shop, shared a few attractionCARDS with other patrons. As a result we met an air line hostess who flew with British Airways and was on a layover.
We entered the Roger Smith Hotel, corner of Lexington and 47th at noon. Janet was setting up the room. A small army of helpers responded to her directions, placing flowers, candles, and coat racks in key locations. It was a symphony of focused activity.
As 12:30 approached women of all ages began to filter into the room, her mother and aunts, all in the early eighties, colleagues and friends from various phases of Janet’s adult life, high school friends whom she had lost touch with and re-located through Facebook, and a bevy of nieces and of course her daughter – a multi-generational tapestry of amazing women.
I don’t think that the choices Janet had made for celebrating her 50th birthday really occurred to me until that moment. I had been asked to briefly entertain this group with the ME FIRST message as part of a Janet’s special day. I was filled with gratitude for this opportunity and for Janet. I was humbled by the presence of these women who had influenced her life and continue to do so. I was in admiration of Janet’s clarity regarding what she wanted for her special day; how she chose to put herself first in that moment and offer every other woman in the room the opportunity of considering this message for themselves.
This was an act of selfness, allowing Janet to be clear about what she wanted and to take the actions that would support her desires as well as a most unselfish act, in her decision to give the gift of ME FIRST to her friends.
As I approach a significant landmark birthday in 2010, I want to carry this message with me. Janet has been an amazing role model and teacher for me these last few weeks. And how cool, really cool was the idea of using her birthday celebration in such a unique way – the seed of a new way to be – ME FIRST!
Until next time…
Betty
What a great post Betty – I wish I was at that Birthday celebration – pretty cool idea…