A Unique Voice

As a “teaser” to the true story I am writing for the “Next Top Self Help Author” competition, I am sharing with you a true story of incredible synchronicity, coincidence and alignment. 

This story is actually in the form of a letter. It is a letter I wrote to Jay Gilbertson, author of Back to Madeline Island. The letter alludes to the story I am now writing. Following this letter is a response from the author…no kidding! 

FYI…I did a little editing so that a reader to whom this letter is not addressed and who is not familiar with the author’s book Back to Madeline Island, its story line and characters could follow the letter a bit better. The editing is in red like this. 

Dear Jay, 

I am writing for two reasons, the first and foremost reason is to share a true, fun, and mysterious (though not so mysterious to me anymore) story of divine inspiration and alignment with my thoughts, desires, and “Inner Being”.

The second reason for writing is to propose a co-creative partnership where “God only knows” will lead!?! I’ll get to this part at the end of the letter. The first part is far more interesting and fun and irresistible to me to want to share with you.

Four years ago I came to a very difficult road in my life. My husband of 16 years, at the time, and I decided we wanted to change the course of our lives. He and I were living in Boston and we really were stagnating in our daily routines and not enjoying a life that we both really wanted and enjoyed. 

We both decided we wanted to move out of the city and back west to the mountains where we first met. I had a retail store in Boston for 10 years and was eager to close up shop and move west! My husband worked for IBM and was able to move anywhere in the country and still do his job, so the situation and transition was easy, though the difficult part for me would  be to close my business and start all over somewhere and leave most of my family and many of my friends. 

Though my husband and I had met in Park City, UT (in a ski resort) we had spent one winter in Aspen, CO and decided Colorado was probably the best place to start our new life. We chose Boulder, CO as our new home.  

Six months after we moved, my husband came home from a 3 week business trip and told me he no longer wanted to be married to me. Needless to say I was shocked, deeply distraught, and frightened to imagine life without him. I of course was deeply hurt and wondered why that if this type of thing was brewing within him, he waited for us to uproot everything in our lives and tell me now, so soon after we had moved!?! 

There’s no need to go into the whole analysis of that, but when my husband told me it was over “I knew” and felt the truth of what he was saying  resonate within me. There was no denying it, there was no trying to understand it, nor trying to “bargain” my way back into his life. It was over for him and I knew it. 

We stayed living in the same house together for 4 months. I cried most of the day and every day for four months. I didn’t tell anyone in my family or any of my friends for at least 3 months what I was going through. It was the loneliest time in my life. 

About 3 months into this event my sister, niece and nephew came to visit me. I told my sister what was going on. During their visit we left my husband at home and went up into a mountain town named Glenwood Springs outside of Aspen. We stayed at this old historic hotel named the Hotel Colorado. It was during our time here that I opened up to my sister and sought her “unusual” counsel. She had become involved in a healing art I was not familiar with. This healing involved her communicating with “Angels” or non-physical beings if you will. Everyone in my family thought she was nuts and “out there”! I did too… until then. 

During our stay my sister communicated with “Angels” who were advising me to move on. They also told my sister many things that eventually came to be. Though she told me many things I didn’t want to hear, I was grateful for spiritual and healing guidance. I was lost, lonely, and distraught and would take any assistance, even from my “whacky” sister and her band from the angelic realm. 

One thing she told me was that I was going to meet another man. At the time this was of absolute no interest to me and I couldn’t have cared less. I was in no place to be with any other man because I still loved and wanted to be with my husband. 

After my sister left I finally told a good friend of mine what was going on. She was very caring and helpful and asked me to come help her open up and revamp three of her retail stores in Nantucket, an island off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. I welcomed the distraction and time away from my husband to decide how I would proceed with my life. I also welcomed the opportunity to go back to my “second home” on Nantucket where I spent 15 summers of my life operating my own restaurant business, The Morning Glory Cafe, and to reconnect with many good friends. 

It was about 15 days into my time on Nantucket where many “things” started to happen to me in unusual ways. It all started when I met a man named Ed (proper name Edward) sitting at a lunch counter at one of the local’s favorite in town. When we started talking his face lit up like a Christmas tree. I didn’t realize until much later what it  as that I was seeing! 

This was the man my sister told me about. After the first few times we spent together I started to “awaken” at a deep level. I realized I was experiencing a “spiritual awakening” though never really consider such a thing before. The experience was what I would consider Quantum at the time. I knew Ed and I were connected at a deep level outside of the ego, outside of the personality. I awakened to immense joy, love, and gratitude like I’d never felt before. 

I also awakened to psychic abilities I never knew existed. I became clairvoyant, clairaudient, clairsentient, and other things I don’t even know how to describe. I “knew”  I was connecting to divinity, God, the universe, life…whatever you may want to refer to “It” as. I realized my sister wasn’t so whacky after all! 

Now the events after this initial awakening are an entire story unto themselves, and I’m not going to go into this with you now. Let’s suffice it to say that I realized we are all much more than we ever imagined ourselves to be. The non-physical aspect of ourselves, call it your spirit, your soul, whatever you may want to refer to it as is truly amazing…beyond words or ineffable (a word I finally came across to describe this experience). I came into alignment with this part of myself on numerous occasions during this time. It was the most magical, mystical, time in my life and it set the course for where I am today. In short, I pay attention to that aspect of myself often. I use it as a guidepost to carve out my way which does eventually bring me to you and this letter. 

But before I really do get to my point in writing…and I promise I will, I’m going to describe to you a little bit more about what I experienced. About 6 months after I met this man Ed, I experienced another awakening after being with him again (during this six month period we didn’t really see each other or establish much of a relationship after a few dates, mostly because of my marital situation and personal situations in his life at the time).

This second awakening was probably 10 times more powerful and eventful than the first one. Let’s suffice it to say its something that’s been described as that which seers, sages, saints, shamans, even Jesus may have gone through in their ascension into greater awareness (trust me, I had no awareness of any of this prior to these experiences, though I did “know” what I was experiencing). This experience was SO INTENSE it almost killed me. It also brought me to a state of deep depression and many periods I’ve come to understand as “Dark Nights of the Soul”….experiences beyond imagination and human awareness or understanding.

How’s that for a Juicy Tid Bit!?! I’m going to have to leave you hangin’ on that one for now J!

It took me close to three years, many non-traditional, spiritual advisors, and much soul searching to recover from this experience. I am by nature a very uplifting, creative, entrepreneurial, responsible, and hard working type of person. I was unable to do much of anything during this period. This was something that was difficult for me to accept at the time, but was forced to.

Little by little I started experimenting with my creativity again because I know how inspired and motivating and uplifting my creative expression can be.  I first started by making cards and I came up with these beautiful hand made cards. I then started making picture frames and was encouraged by how many loved my picture frames. Then I came across this textile artist named Amy Butler who designs beautiful fabrics. I knew I wanted to create something with her fabrics but didn’t know what…..!?!

One day, last fall, I’m walking down Grand Avenue in Glenwood Springs, CO (because I live here now!…a whole other story….seriously, I really do have a whole other story here!). I’m with my mother and we walk into a fabric store because we just like to do this type of thing. In this quaint small town fabric store is a mannequin with this great apron on it and a sign inviting those that are interested to a sewing class to learn how to make this apron. I didn’t really need the class, but was so inspired by the apron design I had to make it!

I bought the pattern. Went home. Got online and ordered fabric from my favorite fabric designer, and proceeded to make 8 different aprons in a variety of styles, with a variety of fun ribbons, buttons, and trims and in a variety of fabric mixes. I was absolutely inspired, motivated, and thrilled to be creating such fun aprons. They’re my own signature style and people love them!

So here’s where the story gets fun for you Mr.Gilbertson:

I have a friend who opened a small town craft and gift store. It’s a very fun, creative, and welcoming shop. I offered to place my aprons in her store on consignment to see how well they’d be received. Before I brought my aprons over to her store I had a call from my friend Joyce, the friend on Nantucket I went to help in the beginning of this story. I was telling her about my aprons and how inspired and fun they were for me. She said Liz, “That’s funny, I’m reading this book about aprons you have to read (of course you know which one that might be!?!), Back to Madeline Island by Jay Gilbertson.”

So I didn’t really think much of it and figured the book would get to me some day. I wasn’t in any hurry because I was in the middle of other books. The day before I spoke to Joyce about the aprons and the book, I was preparing my aprons to bring over to my friend’s gift store. I am a former retailer and currently a designer and I really wanted to consider the hang tags to put on the aprons. I also considered naming each style of apron as well. One is called “Betty Crocker”, one is “Pastry Crème, one is “Cook Out” and the other is “Café”.

In addition to naming each style of apron, I wanted to distinguish this line of products I was developing because I already had a card line and a frame line. So here’s where it starts to get interesting: When I started my company in probably January of 2006 I named it Rhino Ruby Studios. I went through a few name considerations, but was always sure I wanted to use the word Ruby in my name. When writing up the hang tags for the apron I called them Ruby’s Aprons! When doing this I realized and knew awhile ago that I always considered myself the “Ruby” in the company. Even other people would ask who Ruby was and I would always identify myself as this person.

It was maybe 3-4 days after I brought my aprons to the store that my friend Joyce showed up with your book, Back to Madeline Island. A few pages into the book I realize my “guidepost” was speaking to me LOUD AND CLEAR! The first thing that struck me of course was your main character named Ruby. Next was the email address for their business @rubysaprons.com (and of course what I came to find as your web address).

Then other similarities between my life and story and the characters and stories in your book began to emerge as the story unfolded:

• Ruby (a main character in Back to Madeline Island) is a very good cook. I am a very good cook and former restaurant owner of 10 years. I even won the Carbondale Mountain Fair Pie Contest the first year I entered it! (I’m well known for my pies, not to mention my restaurant’s famous Morning Glory Muffins!)
• Ruby’s beloved husband’s name was Ed. There is a man named Ed who is a very significant acquaintance in my life, who was mentioned above (and a key player in the book I am writing)
• Ruby and Eve (another  main character in  Back to Madeline Island) have their business on a remote island and drive “Duck Boats” to get around. I lived on a remote island (30 miles at sea) and operated my own restaurant business, a business I was in partnership for a short period with two men (friends like Howard & Johnny—two other characters in Back to Madeline Island). 
• I owned a home furnishings store in Boston named Sweet Peas Home on the main route for the famous “Boston Duck Tours”. They drove by my store all day every day! 
• I opened up to many psychic abilities, similar to one of the characters in this book (forgive me, but I’ve passed this book on to a friend and forgot her name, but she reminds me very much of this Tarot Card reader I met at a Psychic Fair in Colorado Springs. This was the first “non-traditional” advisor that was of tremendous help to me. She was from Texas, a very dark black woman, almost New Orleans Cajun-like person, with “connections”). 
• Also, though this may be a bit of a stretch (I didn’t take up belly dancing like the women in  Back to Madeline Island), I did take up African Dancing and found great solace and connection to this type of expression!

So, all in all I thought this was too “coincidental” not to share with you! And this really is the most important thing, though there is one other reason for writing. But before I get to that I’d have to say that before my “awakening” I was a lot like Eve. Now I think it’s fair to say I’m a bit more like Ruby…older, wiser, but still lots’ a fun!

So, I’m wondering if you’d like to partner with someone who can make Eve & Ruby “esque” aprons to sell via your website. I’ve been my own boss and experienced business person since college and would love to enter into some type of business relationship with you. The Universe is telling me (and perhaps you too!) that this is in alignment with all that’s good. Let me know if this is of interest to you. It certainly intrigues me and if nothing else confirms that my passion and inspiration for these apron creations is in alignment with Who I Really Am!

I hope you appreciate this story as much as I do! Every time I get “messages” like this I make sure I laugh and thank God, the Universe, All That Is for speaking to me. I Love it and it’s FUN!

Best of luck on your 3^rd book and thank you so much for coming to me in  Back to Madeline Island! You are a gift to me in many ways. I am wholly grateful to have experienced the truth of this statement.

Kindest Regards,

Liz Gracia
Chef, Mystic, Apron Designer, Muffin Queen
Owner
Rhino Ruby Studios and Seeds of Intentions

 So if all of that was not enough coincidence for you here’s some more in the form of the response letter from Jay:

Dear Liz,

What a tale! I can’t get over the chills it gave me, not to mention how well-written it is/was. You really should consider writing, you have a wonderful way with words.

One more thing to toss into the mix is that my sister lives in Aspen! What a riot. This world is so damn small.

I love your web-site and man-O-man are you a talented woman. Not to mention beautiful. I would love to hear more about the ‘experience’ you had that threw you for a major loop of over three years. Talk about cliff-hangers.

Thank you so much for reading and liking my novels. The third one is done and I’m about to begin the fourth. I’ve added some mystery to them since I think a little mystery in one’s life is very important. Not to mention the fact that we all need some magic as well. Sounds like you have a ton of that going on over there in Glenwood Springs.

Your aprons are just, well, they’re art. My vision for Ruby’s Aprons is to create a foundation in order to support/help young pregnant women in crisis. It’s a situation I find in great need of attention as well as funding. Underage women are still getting pregnant and they need a safe place to go to decide what they want to happen to their child. What ever that may be. I’m a HUGE believer in a woman’s right to choose.

But I also will most likely want this to be a Wisconsin effort, as well as a non-profit.

I thank you for sharing your amazing journey with me and I can just tell that you’re only warming up and that there’s plenty more to come! Sure wish I could get in touch with my angels, what a wonderful gift you and your sister have.

Keep creating!

Cheers, 

Jay

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Liz Gracia is an up and coming self help author now residing in Colorado. Her first nonfiction self help  book is based on her true story of a quantum spiritual awakening that took place on the enchanting Island of Nantucket. It was over  a period of 8 months during the year 2003 that this story unfolds. This compelling, magical and mystical story is the basis for her ability to provide self help and wisdom to all of us of the awakening process within and the realization of eternal connectedness and divinity.

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