Meet Gail
Author of A Matter of Distance: Lessons from a Pandemic, these days, Gail Vetter Levin can throw a mean tea party and bring animation to Moo, Baa, La, La, La and Goodnight Moon. And there’s nothing she’d rather do. But it wasn’t always fun and games.
A long time San Diegan, Gail’s career paths have taken her from the halls of Poway High as an English teacher to the halls of Congress as a Press Secretary. She wrote speeches for the Congressional Record and scripts for the local Emmy awards. She’s ripped and read copy on Channel 13 News in Las Vegas and compiled complicated funding requests as a leader with local and national non-profits.
When Covid-19 struck, Gail hunkered down with her husband, Marty, and set about recording how it all felt — especially the distance between her granddaughter and herself. So far, that has proven to be the writing that matters to her the most.
A Writer's Story
Change and What’s Next are those annoying relatives you never asked for, who arrive at inopportune times, make unreasonable demands, and rarely travel light. Change is the crazy uncle and What’s Next is the sweet but nagging aunt. You’d like to be done with them but somehow, you can’t. They’re family.
When they showed up on my doorstep this latest time, I tried to throw the bolt. I’m pretty tired of Change, and What’s Next can be exhausting. Truthfully, they’ve both gotten awfully old. But I made us a pot of tea, a strong rich green for strength and clarity, served in delicate tea cups that were my mother’s, and we began another long vigil.
We talked about their visits from the past and they reminded me how well those had gone. Mostly. A few romantic missteps, I reminded Change, and even some rocky rebounds—I looked at What’s Next. The brief foray to Las Vegas might have been ill-conceived and the fiery red 240ZX was an impulse. But the marriage? That was all Change’s idea and a fine one. What’s Next took credit for my teaching credential, my job on Capitol Hill and even thought that this house was her idea. She might be right. I decided not to talk about what I spent renovating it which I quietly blame on both of them.
Our son—well, he was certainly their finest collaboration and no matter what they have put me through, I will be grateful for their part in that decision.
Fact is, Change used to scare me but he’s an acquired taste and I’ve come to rely on him in the toughest times. What’s Next is always well meaning and her optimism is a gift. If she just wasn’t so needy.
This visit wasn’t a coincidence. I could see Change coming long before the arrived tonight. All my work at the library and all the commitments I’d held for so long had reached a timely conclusion. Thankfully, my kids are moving back to town and it will be wonderful but I don’t know how to find the balance it will require. What if I mess it up completely? I began to weep as I set out all my fears and insecurities. What’s Next patted my hand with gentle understanding.
“It’s been a really hard year for everyone,” I said. What’s Next nodded. “Couldn’t we all just try being normal for a little while?” I looked pleadingly at Change.
“Not how it works,” he said without malice. “You decide or the universe decides for you and sometimes the universe decides for you even if you thought you had decided.” I sat quietly and he said, again, “It’s time. In fact, it’s past time.” He can be a little banal even when he’s right.
I walked to the sink and washed and cut up some fruit; put cookies on a plate—the little thumbprints with jam. Stalling. I know, I know. It’s time. And honestly, I’ve known for a long time what I really wanted to do next but if I say it out loud, I don’t think there’s any going back and what if…
What’s Next knows about that. She’s trying not to nag but she knows. “You’ve had so many interesting careers and done so many lovely things. Maybe the next adventure could include some of what you’ve learned, what you’ve loved.”
Change repeated, “Dear, it’s time.”
What’s Next nudged gently, “And now…?”
I looked up at them both and answered softly,
“I want to be a writer.”