Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers

A good friend excitedly messaged me just over a week ago advising me that ‘you’ve done it, girl!’ My name was in the November edition of the Reader’s Digest. Puzzled, I asked what had she read, which by the way, was by pure fluke while waiting at the doctor’s office. You’re in the edition, was the reply.

Now as I had no recollection or note of submitting any editorial to the Reader’s Digest and I had not received an email confirmation, you can understand my puzzlement. I emailed the editorial department there and then and awaited the reply.

I received an apologetic reply:

Thank you for writing and sorry to hear no one notified you. If you email me back with your complete address, I will gladly send you a copy of the November issue. Best Regards, Vanda Cianfaglia.

Then I waited for the copy to arrive in the mail. So this is the cover

And the entry? This small snippet in response to a question! Yes, it is funny how anticipation can alter our perspective. However, it is a nice keepsake if nothing else. As it is not clear, this is what I wrote in answer to the question: I will never get too old to…

…try new things. I immigrated from the United Kingdom late in life and found a new home, new friends and new hobbies.

My motto is actually New Opportunities – I even made a desk banner to remind me to pursue new things.

Has an anticipation been tempered for you?