The Day I Met The Fonz!!!!
It really was......HAPPY DAYS!!!
Just a very ‘short’ (haha ;) ok Lou tell yourself that haha;0) Substack letter because my heart is full and my head is light.I hope my words come out in some order that make sense haha ;) oh actually you are well used to me at this stage so I know you will feel what I’m saying no matter what ;)
I’ve just returned from meeting the one, the only…..The FONZ - If you might not know who that is - He is an absolutely lovely American actor and a very beautiful human being is Henry Winkler.
As a double bonus I got to enjoy my trip to Dalkey in County Dublin with one of my best pals Martha. We enjoyed a beautiful meal in ‘Dalkey Duck’, snuck into ‘The Kings Inn’ for further chats (& people watching) and then headed down to the GAA hall in Dalkey….With carpet under our feet and a beautiful stage set, this was everything I dreamed of.
We got right up to the front with just the VIP’s sitting in front of us….
Beside me to my right, two ladies took their seats. I threw out a joke or two as they sat down to see who I was sitting close by…And let’s just say, from there the messing began. I love meeting people who are open for the craic and I knew straight away Miriam and Helen were meant to sit beside us. I cracked the jokes and they howled with laughter. And me and martha howled together as well…YESSS we had found the perfect people to sit beside. Two country ladies from down Kildare way (our very own county) and the connection was made and there was no looking back. The rest is history as they say. Miriam and Helen have both moved home from New York after their heart pined and told them Ireland was the place to raise their families. Amazingly Miriam only lives not v far from me and Martha and we all walk the same forest would you believe? haha :) Yes this is Ireland - where we all know each other or after a few minutes we realise we are either related or at least by chance we might live parishes apart….And genuinely you always think this is not going to happen but it does ;) It was brilliant and the chat and messing with the ladies was exactly in tune with the way I live my life as ye all know. I intend to leave not a bit of my life behind and as Miriam said ‘no handbrakes here Lou’….Absolutely Miriam….it’s all about putting the foot to the floor and enjoying every inch of this life when we are healthy and well…..I’m here to live for a good time, not a long time! :)
Next up I spot Henry’s family in the row in front of us. How did I know it was them? ….I didn’t but I felt it in my gut. I just knew it was his wife and his kids. I said it to the girls and there were like ‘is it'?’ and I said yep I definitely think so. At that Martha did some googling and be gorrah I was indeed correct. His beautiful wife Stacy who Henry clearly loves so dearly as he spoke about her on a number of occasions and his beautiful family all just sitting in front of us. From that moment, I loved Henry even more than I loved him than before. There they were. His inner circle. The thing I believe is the key to living a full and happy life. It doesn’t have to be biological family by any means but family is family. It can be people we are related to or it can be the legends we choose for ourselves. But no matter what - money, celebrity status, big houses, a million book sales or any sort of modern successs status means absolutely nothing to me. I know we all need money to pay our bills but at the end of the day we cannot bring any of it with us to the next life. All that matters today, tomorrow and the next day is people to love and people who love us. Love is the value that cannot be bought nor can it be faked. Love is like a flower and it must be watered, cared for and looked after if we want to have it around us. The same goes for love within…
Next up, Henry walks onto the stage wearing a gloriously green arran jumper. He is met with a big heartwarming Irish welcome from the 400 or so people in the room who cannot believe we’ve been so lucky to be sitting in such a small intimidate room with the legend that is THE FONZ ;) He really made it a very happy day for us all…..
I don’t know how to explain what happened for the next 60 minutes….Henry was everything I thought he would be and much more. He shared his life in such depth along with beautiful sensitivity, wisdom and humour too. He was inspirational in so many way sharing the first time he met Robin Williams as a child, how Adam Sandler has such a caring heart and of course the story of being the legendary Fonz for so many years. As well as this, Henry shared so many tales of how life has knocked him down and how he has had to just keep getting back up. He described himself like an orange jello before being put in the fridge…. Looks together on the outside but is shaking with doubt on the inside…He was so honest about how tough it is to be a creative and a human being and did it in his very own unique way. Genuinely I think it was one of my most uplifting, funny and affirming talks I’ve been too….
I made a very clear decision when I lost Gran that I would live my life with her in my heart and I may not get 107 years on this earth but I will pack in was much as joy as I possible can in every day I wake up alive and well….I am living a life where I want to pack in as many good people as possible in my life…..whether they are passing through like Henry ;) He does indeed now have Granny’s book so we will never be apart Henry just like Happy Days right? or like Miriam and Helen….We will definitely be meeting up again locally for a cuppa and a giggle to chat about that day we met The Fonz together…
Earlier this year I was blessed to meet another one of my favourite people - Elizabeth Gilbert - and she was just pure bliss in every way. And just like Elizabeth, Henry was indeed the definition of inspiration and human magic. I feel so lucky to have had both these experiences in 2024 along with lots of other amazing moments with people I love and the world just being its beautiful self. But just to put all this in perspective of the big picture. I love the big picture as you know.
I really believe in FATE serving us lots of things in our lives both good and bad and we never know when or what is going to knock on our doors. I also really believe we can only find true and unconditional happiness and love in which/when we put the effort in…It should not come easy. We must look for it. We must work at it. We must chase it. We must put our shoulder to the wheel to find it. We must notice it. Happiness is the making in every moment but it is up to us to make it happen. Like the flower that needs water and attention, if we want happiness in this life, we must stay alert and we must fight for every fibre of happiness in this world that life offers us. Happiness, joy and fun do not just fall into our lap. And I’m ok with that now. I’ve finally accepted and have signed up for me making my life what I want it to be. I want my life to full to the brim of love and laughter. There will be tears. Many tears. There will be trials. Many trials. But each day I live this life I grow stronger inside. I grow wiser. I make mistakes and I’m ok with that. Sometimes I give too many chances. Somedays my heart is too soft but overall I know I’m a pretty decent human and I am making the best of my time on this earth by sharing love, smiles and hope with every human I meet. I always try put my best foot forward and when things get tough, I will not run away.
2024 has been a very testing and trying year for me personally, with some people I love dearly going through some very heavy times. It was because I love them so much, that I’ve temporarily shifted -what was a full time dedicated life to my writing - to them…I chose love and I know I will never regret that…When you can help someone, always choose that option, you WILL NEvEeR reGRET IT! Because someday somewhere you will need help and I promise you, help will arrive and put its arms around you… For the last few months, I knew people I loved, needed my support to help them back to the safety of the shore and when someone I love needs me, I show up 1000 per cent. In doing that, I’ve had to sacrifice what makes me truly fulfilled but my writing life will still be there for me beyond this moment and in many ways I am still showing up my words….and I hope you feel me showing up for you too.
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Okeydokey I think that is enough words for now….It wasn’t exactly a short story eh? haha ;) I just wanted you to feel you were part of the magic and know I will never forget how lucky I am to have you in my life and in my community. Don’t forget daily messing takes place over on the community home: www.facebook.com/livingandlaughingwithlou
It is now 12.31am and Cinderella aka Lou is way past her bedtime….But I wanted to share with you in the moment. As I began this piece, my heart is full and my head is light and that is the gift of living in the present and grabbing happy days with both hands. I hope Henry, Stacy and their family have a ball in Ireland. A million welcomes is what Ireland is best known for and after the day had I in Dalkey and the fun I had in Dublin City yesterday I think I can be pretty sure they are going to have a ball.
Love and light to you wherever you are reading or listening to this.
Thank you so much for being YOU xx
Lou and all her crasxxiness ;) Over and out amigos x
So special, and thank you so much for sharing your happy days!
What a special night you had, Lou!