the best RSVP

We received a negative RSVP yesterday from someone who was not invited to the wedding.

And it was the best RSVP ever.

Let me back up [quite] a bit: In the summer of 2008, I worked part-time as an editorial intern at this publishing house. I learned a lot that summer, namely, that I did not want to work as an editor. I like ending sentences with prepositions too much for that.

I wrote a lot about those experiences here on this blog, which was brand new that summer. I wrote about forgetting what time to show up on the first day and rearranging bookstore shelves to showcase our books and proofreading an omnibus and then the end of it all.

I also did a lot of reading that summer. One of my favorites that summer was the book Danny Gospel by David Athey. And then David Athey came to the office one day and I met him. It was a fascinating conversation, one I will never forget, and reminded me how spiritual an experience writing is for me and for others like me.

Back to yesterday: we received an RSVP from David Athey. A negative RSVP to the apple picking afternoon. In the comments he wrote the following, which has blessed me every time I read it:

Hey Maggie, In appreciation for the kind words you wrote about me on your blog, I would like to send you a copy of my new novel for a wedding gift. God bless you and Jon! Kind regards, David Athey

It was remarkable and exciting, and I'm really looking forward to reading (and reviewing!) his new novel.