A very brief but poignant post today. Last week, I spoke to middle school kids about stuttering, in an effort to teach so that teasing and bullying can be prevented. This was in honor of National Stuttering Awareness Week. I was fortunate to have a reporter and photographer there, and a nice article was written for both the print and online versions of my local newspaper. There was a video too.

Today, the reporter forwarded me an email he had received from a reader. She had asked the reporter to pass this note on to me. This is what was forwarded to me.

Hello,

This morning I read the article mentioned above.  I went to High School with Pam and am wondering if you would forward this to her?

Hi Pam,

I just wanted to let you know that I too have stuttered for most of my life.  I wish we had known that about each other at Mercy (High School).  Also, it made me feel proud for you that you are able to speak out about stuttering. I just wanted to touch base and let you know that.

Cindi

She provided her last name, her married name, and her email address in case I wanted to get in touch with her. (I did – emailed her).

This totally blew me away. If only I had known. I would not have felt so alone. I would have known someone else who stuttered. How wonderful that she took the time to write to the reporter, and that he took the time to forward this to me.  I really have to process this.

Things happen for a reason.