Saying Good-bye to Nora Ephron

I didn’t want to say good-bye to Nora – not just yet. I wanted to meet her in person. I wanted to thank her for all her sharp dialogue and pithy remarks. I wanted to look her in the eye and tell her how much I appreciated her tightly crafted screenplays and journalistic approach to her BLOGS, articles and whatever she wrote.

I wanted to thank her for being human. An example of this was in 1997, after President Clinton’s tryst with Monica Lewinsky, I had a part time job as a tele-marketer. I randomly called her number and she answered. I was star struck. I wanted to ask her a million and one questions about her writing and her life and her feelings about this issue and that issue. I wanted to invite her to tea or dinner or walk with her in Central Park and just listen to her. I was dying for her mentorship. Instead, as I sat there in my tele-marketing cubby, I read off the script I had written. “Ms. Ephron, don’t you agree that when someone in your own family makes a mistake, you don’t disown them. You see that they are human and you forgive them. Well, that’s how it is with our President. The Democrats are our family and….”

She got it. I didn’t have to say another word. She said and I quote, “Without question. He screwed up! No pun intended.” (She had a great sense of humor). “How much do you need to keep this PR campaign going?” “Whatever you would like to contribute,” I replied. She was very generous with her contribution!

Still, she left too soon! There was so much more of her that I wanted to see on the screen and read in her books. I had wanted to send her my novel, Pushing Upward. I wanted her to call me and say – “Good job. Great premise. I loved that you incorporated the I Ching in the story . . . But, she left before it was published.

And then, this morning, I read this passage in the New York Times . . .

Nora Ephron’s Hollywood Ending

In “You’ve Got Mail,” Meg Ryan asks Tom Hanks why it is that men quote “The Godfather” all the time. Tom Hanks explains that “The Godfather” is the I Ching. ” ‘The Godfather’ is the sum of all wisdom,” he says. ” ‘The Godfather’ is the answer to any question. What should I pack for my summer vacation? ‘Leave the gun, take the cannoli.’

That’s what “The Godfather” is for men. For women, Nora Ephron is the I Ching, the sum of all wisdom, wit, and even what to eat. Basically, anything worth saying about love, loss and, yes, what I wore, was said by Nora somewhere, be it “Heartburn,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “Julie & Julia” and every blog, book and recipe she ever published.”

So there you have it.

In a sense, Nora answered my prayers. I am so grateful. I send her my heartfelt blessings for a seamless passage into the next life. For I know, if she is meant to come back, she will no doubt be in the company of some very awesome, talented parents. She may even be born into my son’s family. Who knows! Wouldn’t that be auspicious! Then, I can mother her and play Auntie Mame and shower her with gifts – just like she has showered us with all of her gifts. It could happen!

With great respect and love to Nora’s family and friends….
Hats off to an AWESOME Life!
andrea
!