Announcing 2021 Carpe Diem Day Winner

I’ve been hosting Carpe Diem Day contests throughout the month of February mostly in a selfish attempt to gain followers and recognition for Carpe Diem Day.

I’d venture to say, no one cared about winning the $25 prizes I was suggesting for any of my contests. The few people who were playing, were playing for the fun of it.  I loved seeing the creative photos and captions for both Wear Red Day and Umbrella Day. Picking a clear winner based on quality of entry was too difficult so I went with a “random draw” approach.

With my final contest.. the “big one”… in celebration of Carpe Diem Day.. there ended up being one very clear winner.  Her “entry” into this contest is much more than a creative photo. 

I ended my last blog post with this teaser:

Her story captures the spirit of what I envisioned for Carpe Diem Day celebrations so perfectly..  showing resilience, love, generosity, and the preservation of legacy.

Lee’s story begins over 50 years ago when she met her first love – the love of her life – Brian MacIvor.  They were high school sweethearts at Karachi American School in Pakistan. 

A few years after high school they went on to live separate lives. They reconnected in 1995 after Lee acted upon a dream she had  a few days before by telephoning.  Despite living in different countries, Lee – in a very “Carpe Diem” -like way, seized the day.  She made the bold move from the US to Europe and later in 1998, she and Brian were married.  Who says those romantic movies are unrealistic?

When Brian died tragically in an accident in 2017, the grief for Lee, of course, was unbearable. Grief is an emotion that is indescribable. Though it might remind us that life is precious, ‘seizing the day,’ when we don’t have our partner to seize it with anymore, feels empty. Life can feel meaningless.

But life is NOT meaningless. Brian’s life gave so much meaning to Lee and to countless others. Brian’s art, his poetry, and his amazing, eclectic library of books — these all had meaning. Brian’s passions and joys affected other people. Brian brought love to this world. He made the world a better place. Most notably, he made Lee’s world a better place.

When a loved one dies, we’re entrusted to a legacy that’s more than their possessions. We hold this intimate knowledge of this beautiful soul that changed our lives. When we see their writing, perhaps a signature on an old card..  Or hear their voice, perhaps on an old video.. We want to imprint those memories in our minds and our hearts so they’re never forgotten. We want the world to know this amazing person. We want the world to know this unique, one-of-a-kind genius who we loved..  This person is gone from this world now, but we want the world to be able to experience their magic. 

Lee, holds a gold mine of memories of Brian in her heart. Her Carpe Diem Day celebration is to donate Brian’s amazing collection of over 4000 books to the right home.

Donating a collection of this size, however, is not easy. Donating anything after a great loss is not easy. Lee’s quest for a home for Brian’s treasured collection came with challenges. 

She put a social media post out looking for a home, describing the unusual collection and Brian’s parameters in his selections: 

Brian, a quiet, handsome, and easy to love man from Toronto started collecting books at a young age.  As he grew, so did his passion for books.  He formed his own parameters as to what would be suitable for his personal collection.  The basic genres for his collection were science fiction/fantasy and detective mysteries, although there are many classics in the collection as well.  The books had to be used and in paperback (with a few exceptions allowing for availability and books received as gifts).  Brian would never lend a book from his collection; instead he would generously buy and give a copy of the book to the one who had asked for the loan.

So now I am here to ask for what I need and for what I envision.  I see someone with a big heart and big respect for a book lover’s beloved collection.  I see a person/persons with a plan to receive/retrieve these books and to give/find them a home or many appreciative homes.

Thank you, dear Universe, for connecting me to what I need and want.  It may be through FB, email, phone, or a knock on the door, but somehow your magic will prevail.

Lee received various leads and ideas and helpful communication from book store owners, university library directors, and SciFy/Fantasy book clubs. She had different ideas about donating to youth groups, local prisons, or nursing homes, but all came with complications. Her preference was to keep the collection together, but it was difficult to find a recipient who wanted the entire collection.

When she saw my Carpe Diem Day contest, and that it was on February 26th, 2021, the day after Brian’s February 25th birthday, she was determined to donate the cherished collection in celebration of Carpe Diem Day, despite any complications.

As often happens when we put our intentions out, the Universe provided Lee with an answer on February 23rd. She happily wrote to those of us involved with her story:

Just received a call from Genesis nursing & rehab – they will take Brian’s ENTIRE collection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so elatingly, heart-pumpingly high! Brian’s books will have a forever home and we may be able to visit! 

This week will continue to be emotional for Lee, as the whole month of February has been, with Anniversaries and special days that she and Brian celebrated together. I am thrilled that she found a home for Brian’s collection and that his legacy will continue to be shared with the world. Despite challenges and pain, choosing to spread joy, love, and happiness.. choosing to persevere..  Now that is what Carpe Diem Day is all about.