• Home
  • As seen on …
    • Advocacy Work
  • About the writer
  • Contact Me
  • Portfolio
  • Get Involved
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Kathryn Mayer • Writing Out Loud

I write stuff down. writer • humorist • activist

Performance Reviews by People that Matter

March 14, 2011 by Kate Mayer 5 Comments

I have a lawyer friend who I’ve used and abused on many occasions: when domestic violence broke a soul; when alcohol destroyed a marriage; when mental illness invaded a family; when ageism led to layoffs; when special education services were revoked; when misdiagnosis led to mayhem.

 I trust him.

He personally advised, consoled, cajoled and educated me on demand: calmly, professionally, and empathetically. At midnight. On Sunday mornings. At his kid’s Confirmation. He always returned my call, regardless.

I didn’t always like what I heard, but he told me nevertheless. Free of charge. Friend to friend.

In gratitude, I took him to dinner. In reality, I owe him a beach house. Waterfront.

As I apologize for bothering him, he assures me, again and again for over a decade now, “Stop. This is what I do. It’s what I love to do. I want to help, especially my friends, wherever and whenever I can.” And he means it, as his brilliant wife concurs.

I believe in my friend, and he knows it.

I didn’t comprehend his generosity until just recently, until someone asked me for advice.

When I tell people I’m a writer, they ask excitedly, “Wow – anything I know?” 

Ahhh, no. It’s not like that.

I write copy: I get paid for sharing the words I write, the message invoked, on brochures, websites, e-alerts, Facebook, Twitter.  For dentists and jewelers and schools and airports and financial services and car dealers. And sometimes, I write here, with no rules, no parameters, no pay.

Now that I’m back in the working world, my friends see there’s more to me than a nose-ring and potty-mouth. Which is unusual, somewhat awkward, and genuinely humbling.

But when a friend, colleague or acquaintance asks me to take a look at something, or asks if I’d write a little blurb about… that’s when my insides shine and I know why my lawyer friend always takes my call.

It’s good for the ego: reassurance we know what we’re doing.

It’s good for the soul: giving back to the people who make us who we are. It’s sharing our skill, because it’s the right thing to do.

It’s why when I was referred to write for a fundraiser by a friend-of-a-friend who read a blogpost mourning a dead dad, I was floored.

Me?

Then honored. Someone read what I wrote, and deemed me worthy to represent my town supporting a family who has suffered too much.

Me.

This braindump of a blog which I thought few if anybody read, now has me representing my town, the community and a family I don’t know personally but relate to intimately.

I’m forever touched and thankful for the invitation, and will get straight to work, truly happy to do so and dedicated to doing the best job possible.


Anxiously Awaiting Payday Again
Nothing Says Mantime Like Grave Digger and Beef Jerky

Comments

  1. bethannchiles.com says

    March 14, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    Ah….I think it is awesome to be recognized for something like writing!!! Even the mundane (or what we think is may be mundane) words can have such an impact on someone—we just never know!!! Keep on writing and we will keep on reading!!! Thanks for the words today!

    Reply
  2. vbjenn says

    March 14, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    As always, you inspire…

    Reply
  3. Michelle Saunderson says

    March 15, 2011 at 2:56 am

    Ya know, I think I might be offended. You say nobody reads your blog, but here I am reading it. What exactly are you inferring?

    Yes, it is nice to get noticed isn’t it?

    Reply
  4. Haven says

    March 15, 2011 at 4:39 am

    Not everyone is as willing to share their talent without pay.

    You are actually a semi-rare, special, and very giving individual.

    This is beautiful. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Kathy (p/t writer, f/t mom) says

    March 15, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    Wow. You came. You read. You commented.
    You. Are. Awesome.

    I. Am. Lucky.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Never Miss A Post!
Enter your email address below to receive updates in your Inbox.
No Spam. Promise.
Rams hubbard
Follow @kathykatemayer Tweets by @kathykatemayer

kathykatemayer

Mask, vax & lax! First game spectators were allowe Mask, vax & lax! First game spectators were allowed at in over a year -- felt great to see my boy play in person! Plus jalapeno marg after — thx for the vaccine #moderna•#hoboken #stevensinstitute #d3mlax #drinkingwmyboy #spectators #socialdisdancing #gotech #smartfunnykind #littleegg #goboy  #lastegg
I’m so grateful & happy this sister of mine is c I’m so grateful & happy this sister of mine is celebrating another birthday! Happy birthday @jennifer.mayer.589 — wishing you much success  on the court and off!
Happy birthday plus a day to this grownass amazing Happy birthday plus a day to this grownass amazing woman.Spoiled for sure -- me, not her.  Never her, kid3. (Or him.) Just me, and super glad & grateful for it.•#grownandflown #proudmom #brooklynbrains #brooklynbeauty #offthepayroll #emptynest
Not dead yet. Thankfully. Most days. • #vaccin Not dead yet.Thankfully.Most days.•#vaccinated #mostly #upfromthegraveshearose #yesimeantSHE #sisterpower #missingsandra
Welcome back. Getting the blog back together. See Welcome back.Getting the blog back together. See you soon.•#writing #blogging #storytelling #getit? #willigetsuedforthis #welcomeback #backinthesaddleagain #cnf #essaywriting #wordsmatter #memoir #reallife #funnynotfunny #canyouhearmenow
It’s hard to keep up with the shooting hashtags. It’s hard to keep up with the shooting hashtags.We don't need to live(and die)like this.We really don't.•#guncontrolnow #endgunviolence #guncontrol #backgroundchecks #banweaponsofwar #onlyinamerica
“Who owns that baby?” • #signsofspring #lola “Who owns that baby?”•#signsofspring #lolasnewfriend #ididntstealthisbaby #neighbors #spring #viewfromnewtown #imtheoldladyonthestreet #gottabuyicepops
Can't you smell that smell? I have a really funny Can't you smell that smell?I have a really funny story about growing up and hating this🍀aroma but...now that restrictions are liftedwith white supremacy armed and at the ready,and mass shootings resumed,with Asians in the cross hairs,I'm just not feeling all that festive.•#stpatricksday #cornedbeefandcabbage #irish #homegrownterrorist #whitesupremacyisterrorism #hatecrime #misogyny #endgunviolence #disarmhate #stopasianhate
This woman right here is going places! Congratula This woman right here is going places!Congratulations @bradyanne on passing your exam and aiming high! World is lucky to have you!Hire her!
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Categories

Lucky Me!

Archives

About Kathryn Mayer

Kathryn Mayer

An irreverent storyteller with a foul mouth and big heart, Kathryn Mayer (aka Kathy and/or Kate) is a writer, humorist, and activist writing out loud with humor and grace about little life moments with big ripples, including the space between parenting and aging parents, social issues, angsty reflections of midlife, and, sigh, gun humpers. Still. Sometimes a big deal, sometimes not Mayer is a national award-winning columnist, according to the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and her essays have been recognized as Voice of the Year … Read More Here...

Never Miss A Post!
Enter your email address below to receive updates in your Inbox.
No Spam. Promise.
75 kate[at]kathrynmayer[dot]com
xo Kate
  • Home
  • As seen on …
  • About the writer
  • Contact Me
  • Portfolio
  • Get Involved

Copyright © 2021 Kathryn Mayer Designed By: J9 Designs