My Sunday Visitor — Behind the Story

So, I wrote this story. Susan gave it a read through. Magical realism isn’t really her style, but if she’s going to read it, a romance is the way to go. (Her words, not mine!)

Then we recorded and watched Garth Brooks’ receiving the Library of Congress Gershwin Award for Popular Song*, an award that is not required to be given each year. Amazing. The last half was a clinic on being a gracious, humble, and talented human being who knows how to tell a story and connect with an audience. Pretty cool.

Like I said, the story was already written.

Days later, Susan found a clip of Garth on the Kelly Clarkson Show from November 23, 2023. Talking about the future, Garth said, “Just truthfully, if I could say, what I’d like to say, the day I take my last breath on this planet, I’d love for my three girls to be around me. And I’d love for the queen to be around me. But as far as Miss Yearwood, I don’t know. You know, I’ve said this before. I found her in the past life. I’ll find her in the next.”

I got goosebumps and knew that this story needed to the April offering! Dang, I love getting signs from the universe.

Pretty cool, huh?

Once again, thanks to my beta readers for their suggestions and always, always making my stories better. (MT … thanks for the Shortz-style clue! Was happy I solved it on my own!)

Finally, I’m not going to give the real name of the bakery, but if you happen to find yourselves near 5224 Port Royal Rd, Springfield, VA, I heartily suggest you stop by.

As always, thanks for reading!

—Phillip

*Just as astounding, the date was March 4, 2020. In the audience were all manner of celebrities and politicians, from both sides of the aisle, together belting out some of Garth’s biggest hits, side-by-side. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared a pandemic and our whole world changed. No one in the audience that night was wearing a mask or social distancing, there was no other agenda than to celebrate life and music. Besides Garth’s performance, it gave me chills to see this as a time capsule of our country and what lie just seven days in the future. More chilling, how many in the audience were affected already, and didn’t know it at the time?