There are many who stand by the side of the road
and watch life travel by. Nora Ephron
marched right down the middle line. She
followed no one, instead charting her own unique path, and encouraging others
to do the same by her example.
Her remarkable career is being written about in
articles all over the web and print world today. I will leave that chronicling to others. For me, Nora’s place in literary history is
much more personal. She was my rock star. She set the writing bar impossibly high with
her ability to pierce any ordinary moment with an infusion of humor so damn
honest and relatable that we were all in on the joke. Nobody knew that the personal was universal
better than Nora.
In my fantasy, I became the long lost Ephron sister. I looked up to her, saw every movie, read
every book, every interview, striving to shape my prose and humor in her imprint
and, of course, falling pitifully short. But because she set the bar so high, I made it
to a higher rung in my work than I ever would have had it not been for her
example. Among the most important things Nora’s writing
taught me was the meaning and importance of “authenticity of voice” – to find
my own and trust that it would be enough.
Had I lived in New York, I would have made Alec
Baldwin’s stalker look like an amateur.
In a piece from 2010, “Stalking Nora Ephron,” I wrote of my attempt to
meet my idol through an essay competition where the prize was a trip to New
York and a face-to-face with the grand lady of humor herself. I didn’t win.
More than anything, I wanted the opportunity to stand
before her and say thank you. It wouldn’t
have been dignified. I’m sure I would
have blubbered inanely and embarrassed both of us. Best I say it here where I can exercise at
least the illusion of decorum.
I’m standing by the side of the road where I see
your footprints and I smile. I love you,
Nora Ephron. You are and will always
remain my hero. Thank you…
This post
was shaped by the prompt, “By the side of the road,” part of the 30-day writing
challenge from Nicky and Mike at We Work for Cheese. I didn’t know how I was going to express my
feelings about the passing of Nora Ephron and this prompt gave me the structure
I needed. Inspiration is everywhere…
