by Cookie Curci

Through him I found a new belief in myself, and a renewed interest in my writing. I went back to my old battered typewriter, unfolded my crinkled manuscript and set myself some new goals--no matter how many unmade beds and dirty dishes stood in my way.

My husband, who had the talent and capabilities to sink a birdie putt at 30 feet, but couldn't manage to open a can of soup or pick up a wet towel for himself, finally agreed to help out with the household chores leaving me more time for my writing.

After receiving that first letter from Dr. Buscaglia we began a regular correspondence, and because of his encouraging words I never gave up my passion for writing. I'll always remember one letter in particular. It arrived after I had written Leo that I was struggling between ironing and cleaning for my husband and finding time to write. Leo, ever thoughtful and possessing a rye sense of humor, enclosed an article in his letter he'd found in an English newspaper? In it, a reporter had asked the husband of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher "who wore the pants in his household." His reply, "I wear the pants in my house of course... I also wash and iron them!" That humorous little article gave me the courage to finish my manuscript and many more like it. I wrote of the things I knew, my beloved and extended Italian family, my memories of friends and of my community. My collection of these stories filled my file cabinets. One day, upon Leo's suggestion, I submitted my work to the editor of my local newspaper. The editor liked what I had to say and printed my letter as an article in the newspaper. The article was well received, especially by the Italian population. The editor asked me to write a column for the newspaper. I've been writing a nostalgia column ever since.

That old manuscript? Well, it was published along with several of my other stories in a series of books by Morrow publications. "Christmas Miracles", "Mother's Miracles", "Opening the Gifts of Christmas." More stories were published in the new book series "Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul", Chicken Soup for the Grandmother's Soul" and "Chicken soup to Inspire a Woman's Soul". Thanks to Leo's letters, I never gave up trying. Like Leo always said, "The greatest failure is the failure to try."

Many of us have probably given up just when with a bit more persistence and patience we could have made it. A letter or word of inspiration, given at just the right moment, can give someone those much-needed words of encouragement. I'm grateful Professor Leo Buscaglia came into my life at just the right time and so generously shared with me those all important words of encouragement.