I'm Gretchen Rubin and this is a little happier. I've recently enjoyed hearing a happy story on the May 12th, 2023 episode of The Book Review podcast, the podcast from the New York Times Book Review.

During the interview, the host Gilbert Cruz asked novelist Ernie Nand Diaz

about how he'd heard the thrilling news that he'd won the Pulitzer Prize

for his second novel Trust. Of course, winning the Pulitzer Prize is an

enormously exciting achievement for a writer.

It's a huge accomplishment.

Ernie Diaz told the story.

He was in Greenville, South Carolina, on his paperback tour.

He was very hungry, and he stopped at a place that sold

fried chicken and waffles. When he was halfway through his meal he heard the

announcement. He lost his composure and went outside to sit weeping on the curb.

Then he said three lovely older ladies came by

who asked,

Sweetheart, honey, are you okay?

He shared the good news with them, and they were delighted for him.

Suddenly he said all four of us were hugging on the street. It was a good moment. I love thinking

about the experience of these three thoughtful passers-by. They saw a stranger who they assumed was in deep distress and they stopped to

comfort him. And instead they had the opportunity to share a joyful moment.

If you'd like to hear Ernie Endias tell this story,

I'll post a link in the show notes.

He tells this story at about minute 22.

I'm Gretchen Rubin Rubin and I hope this makes your week a little

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