Kelly Corrigan : Just what we needed
Well, that was fun.
If you had seat Wednesday, October 13 for our first live event, WF&S Talks with Kelly Corrigan, you know what I mean.
In a year (or two) where getting together has been all but impossible, Wednesday felt like a coming out party. Coming out of our homes. Coming out of our isolation. Coming out of our Zoom rooms.
When we first planned the event in April, it never occurred to me that Covid would be having a second wave this fall. By August, with all the news of breakthrough infections and overflowing hospitals, I was certain we would have to cancel. But I really, really didn’t want to. I had said this dream out loud, and I wanted to see it happen. Luckily, so did 200 of you who showed up vaccinated and in person to The Collector’s Room in Southend.
As women arrived, even behind the masks, you could tell everyone was smiling. There were hugs for old friends and introductions to new friends. By the time we sat down for lunch and masks could come off, it was like we were all remembering how good normal felt.
One guest wrote me, “I didn’t realize how much I needed to see women I love and laugh until tears filled my eyes with joy.”
Another said, “I have not laughed with my girlfriends like I did today in a long, long time. Kelly was brilliant, soulful and hilarious.”
And this one, “What a lunch! The spirit in the place was so full of light. All I can say is that it was so much fun to have that much fun.”
Yes, it was. From stories about her father that made us tear up to her final “drop the mic” joke (which will make me laugh at the word “probably” forever), Kelly made us feel as if we were friends in her living room telling stories.
If you listen to her podcast, Kelly Corrigan Wonders, Kelly always concludes with her take always of the interview. So, in homage to Kelly, here are five takeaways from the day.
1) We had all forgotten how much more fun we are in person than on our computer screens.
2) Laughter really is the best medicine.
3) We have all had a really bad haircut.
4) There are some things that the generations behind us will never get like licking stamps and flip phones.
5) Kelly Corrigan is just as hilarious, insightful, and genuine in real life as she is on the pages of her books.
—Kathy
Kathy Izard is the founder of Women | Faith & Story (www.womenfaithstory.com) and the award-winning author of three books. Her first memoir The Hundred Story Home released in 2016, received a Christopher Award for outstanding inspirational nonfiction. In 2019, she created a children’s book, A Good Night for Mr. Coleman with artist Evelyn Henson, encouraging kids to dream big and do good. Her new memoir, The Last Ordinary Hour, is now available in ebook, audiobook, and paperback through your favorite booksellers. Kathy’s work has been featured on NPR as well as the Today Show inspiring people to be changemakers in their communities. Learn more www.kathyizard.com.