My Evening with Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou via last.fm

This week I had the chance to spend the evening with Maya Angelou (well and about 8,000 people from all walks of life) at Drake University.  For me, this was what it feels like to be in the presence of a sage.  This was the second time I have seen her in Des Moines and she was much more frail than about five years ago. 

Dr. Angelou (as she prefers to be called) came to the stage using a cane and sat down behind a microphone without the use of a podium.  She spoke for a good hour without the use of one note.  A few times she grabbed one of her books from which she read a poem, but she really did not need the books because she knew her work by heart.

It was clear that she is a great storyteller.  It was as if we were all gathered at her feet to hear her words of wisdom.  Dr. Angelou spoke of "rainbows in the clouds" as a metaphor to remind us of our mentors and teachers, the people who have helped us along the way.

She had a wonderful sense of humor and it was clear that the audience, which consisted of people of all ages and walks of life, was mesmerized.  She was grateful to the people who have helped her.  As her books have so well documented, Dr. Angelou had a disturbing and horrific childhood.  She reminded us that she never imagined she would accomplish what she has in her life.  But she had "rainbows in her clouds" who helped her see possibilities and remain hopeful. 

Dr. Angelou was sharing the wisdom she has distilled from her life experience and passing it on to us.  She challenged us to "be a rainbow in someone's cloud."

Jann's Note:  She was a sage for sure.  It was a wonderful evening being in her presence.