A Sunday afternoon, two years ago, I was reading my blog and thinking how intelligent my readers are. So I thought: why not invite some of them to the party I held every March 19, in honor of my patron, Saint Joseph? Acting on an impulse (as I normally do) I posted the invitation for 10 people on the first come/first served basis. We got over 500 emails, and the first were from different parts of the world. However, the party was to be held in the middle of the Road to Santiago, (Puente la Reina, Spain).
Then I asked myself: did these readers understand the invitation? It is only for a party, I am not paying the air ticket, hotel, etc. And it is not easy to get to Puente la Reina. I sent a second email to them, and all said that they fully understood. Thanks to this, I had the pleasure to meet wonderful people, most of them now in my top friends in Myspace, and all of them very close to my heart.
I repeated this experience in 2008. Again, the readers were invited, and we had a fantastic time together in a boat on the Seine.
You can see the photos of the first party clicking here, and watch the video of the second party by clicking here.
Again, this 19th March, the party will be held in Paris: I am closing a small brasserie, so we can meet once more. To allow some conversation, I limited the invitation to 120 people, being 90 of my long time friends (that came to the party for the past 20 years), and 30 readers. From that 30 readers, I already invited 10, either because they became personal friends, or because they are constantly present in my social communities (like Vanhacker, Paul from Austria, Jessica, Thelma, Aditya,etc).
So we have 20 places left. Therefore:
A] if you want to come, please send an email to pilar_piedra@hotmail.com with a link to your page or your blog. We are going to select on the first come/first served basis.
B] Send your email during this week. If you don’t hear back from me, that means that either you are in the waiting list (the extra guests) or we need to find another opportunity to meet.
G] If you can come, you understand that the invitation is only for the party, and for one person.
Thank you for your understanding that I cannot invite all of you, even if I want to.
UP-DATE 04.02.09
Thank you very much for your quick answer. We already had the first 20 guests less than 1/2 after we posted the information. At this point, we have close to 1.316 emails. So we have to close the invitation, and find another time to meet.
To the first ones, I still did not have time to answer you. But I will do that either tomorrow or Friday- therefore, if you did not receive the email, that does not mean that you are not invited.
Love
Paulo
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi
For some years now I have been searching for my spiritual home having lost touch with many friends and family. Some have moved away due to work etc. Some have passed. Your books and blog have helped me to ‘connect’ again.
From being a person who was sure of my path, circumstances had left me lost and bereft. So important to feel connected, to know that there are good people out there.
I’m still not totally certain where my path will lead me but feeling this connection has at least made me sure of where I don’t want to be.
Winner Stands Alone confirmed many things, many thoughts that have run through my mind over the years. Even though it is ‘fiction’, there are many truth’s as in all your books.
Many thanks to Paulo and all the people who share Truth
Helen
I am coming too late… Maybe some other day.
:) I still have hope too, concidering everything that has happened.
I have not checked my Post Office Box yet. Still live in hope.
Love to all.
Ahhh… I can’t believe I missed this invitation. My birthday is on March 19th… I actually sent a message to Paulo on myspace last year when I figured it out… ohh… I will be thinking of all of You again this year. I am a little sad I missed this opportunity.
Hi Paulo,
It’s now that am reading your invitation.Thanks for thinking of all of us. I don’t think that I’ll be among the chosen ones since I have also read ur 2nd message. hmm actually this year I found a job thanks to St Joseph,it’s the 1st of my life.Yesterday I asked my mum to light a candle at my place in Mauritius to thank him. Another coincidence is that am also reading your book “Comme le fleuve qui coule”where you talk of St Joseph, that had brought tears to my eyes. And today i read about the party that you are holding…
Hope that we’ll be able to meet someday.
Am actually studying medecine in Paris.
Amitiés
Dan
Dearest Paulo
What a wonderful invitation to receive! Another time, another day, we shall meet. Sending you lots of Love and Laughter! x
Susy
Australia
We will all dance together in my heart. X
I have a theme for the party :”Men are from Mars and women are from Venus”.
xxx
Well, considering that the 19th of March is my birthday, I can’t imagine you’d be coming to my party!
I don’t think you’d much enjoy it either but if by some freak you’re in the south of england then and not at your own party, do drop by!
huhuhuh…
i want to attend your party but im from philippines and i have no alloted budget for the travel….huhuhu…and im not from a rich family who can afford the transport expenses..huhuh..it is really sad on my part…
huhuhu..
Mr. Coelho, can i ask something? (If it is just possible)When will you visit the Philippines? :D hehe… I really just want to see and have some little conversation with you…aheheh.. :D
anyways, congrats to those who are invited :D wiiiiiiiiiiiii
Dear Monika
I hope you feel better soon, so you can live your dream, life sometimes isn’t fair, but we have to keep going, through the ups and the downs.
My thoughts and prayers are with you
Love
Pandora
At Chirstmas of 1996 I was given as a present the “Alchemist”. It was the book that I put in my heart.
On 15 of October, 2000, I read in a Cyprus news-paper an interview of Paulo Coelho by a Greek-Cypriot journalist who made the 15th hours journey just to meet him for this interview! I have kept this interview in the ‘Alchemist’ and in my heart. But I can tell you that for a moment I felt ‘jealous of Eleni Xenou ! I made a wish to be able sometimes to meet him too and kept it in my heart! I was even thinking of sometimes going to …Brazil! Nobody new about this wish of mine!!
Now it seems that the ..Universe [dear-est Paul from Austria] and the time have conspire for my wish to come true. I bought a lap-top last year and the first thing that I thought to do was, after searching for a biography/photo of my loving music professor who died many years ago, to search for Paulo Coelho. So here I am with all of you sharing this warm, loving place.
So, I believe, there is time for everyone of us to have our wishes be fulfilled, if we ‘really’ desire it.
LOVE,
Thelma
p.s.
I hope that everything will be o.k. and on the 19.3 with God’s help I will be there.
Oh,hope you will have a wonderful party.Just now I feel little frustrated,because I see another occasion in which maybe money make the difference,I have no chance to be there,my financial situation do not aloud me.The sad thing is that is not the first time this sort of things happens.Hope once I will have money in the right moment.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I am not here for a while and this happens? Why, Lord, Why?
Dear Paul of Austria, I´m agree with you, in fact I think this moment isn´t correctly but I live my present and I dream with my future, in some moment I can make real one of my dreams. the universe conspire to do real our dreams, I have hope to know people special but simple like Mr Coelho,you and other people. I hope, when i will know Mr Coelho, don´t frozen me. I´m apologize for my english, and thanks Mr Coelho for this oportunity for us.
Lieber Paul aus Österreich,
ich finde es wirklich schön, wie du dich immer um andere sorgst, aber hier klingst du wie eine Parodie von Paulo. (Ich stelle mir deine Worte gerade mit einem charmanten Schwarzenegger-Akzent gesprochen vor!;-) Bleib doch lieber du selbst – ich mag deine Kommentare, besonders deinen Sinn für Humor.
Liebe Grüße von
Monika aus dem Saarland
Dear Paul from Austria,
I don’t know your message shall make me laugh or cry?
I appreciate your efforts, but I guess I am difficult to delight today. I am feeling totally lousy! I cannot sleep despite of painkillers. But you have abstracted me a little bit for the time I wrote this. Thank you!
1st time it was at a book signing. That was just the begining. Next time i will offer you a rose.
what a wonderful idea!
i found this blog only 2-3 months ago,and don*t even enter every day,but i*m always having great time here whith all.i am so happy for all the guys that will be at the party and will surely become other new friends of mr.coelho.but!… I dream one day to have the possibility to make my own parti and envite some persons here from and mr.coelho in person.without any reason,just a party to meet in person friends and change goog feelings and the joy of life( universe and all the rest :))
untill then :have all the best time ,enjoy each others company and do not forget to shot fotos and make me see all (including Paris)
love
What a GREAT idea to meet some of your friends on Saint Josephs day! i read this post last night and thought, Would be Fantastic meet you in PAris, we leave in Rome, and its easy for us to go, but we celebrate Father’s day on Saint Joseph day so we are together with my dad in law,my husband and girls so i dont send an email, maybe other time, we could meet you, and wish you another GERAT time with your friends and readers!
I met you on march 2006 when you was signing books on Via Veneto, and that day was one of my best days life ever! hope to meet you with my husband, because we felt in law when we finished Brida, long story, but we really love you!
Good luck and good night!
Baci
Wendy
Have a wonderful party, my friends that are going my heart is with you, my friends that are not, we will have another time to boogie I am sure.
Much love
XXX
I wonder what it would feel like to meet and greet with you and all the people you have in your life…….I imagine it would be just beautiful. Thinking about it brings up so many emotions. I’ve decided to be there in Spirit to enjoy all there is to enjoy. I value the incredible gifts you have given and appreciate the opportunity to be a part of it all.
Thank you for the invitation.
Be well and joyful,
Love
Carlene
Yesterday I was in hospital and received an infusion which I did not bear well. So today I am tired, all my bones are aching and I had to take some painkillers.
To light up my mood a little I decided to read your blog here like every day. I was at once wide awake when I read of the Saint Joseph’s Party and thought: “Great, this year I want to be there! What a good luck there will be no problems with school, because our movable day of holiday is the 20.3. this year!”
Then I read you have already invited ten readers. – I checked at once my e-mail – and was deceived, I was not among them.
“Okay, then I will send an email…
Shit! First come first serve basis… I am much too late!”
I need not descripe how deceived I sat in front of my computer.
Inbetween I have reflected some time and I have come to the conclusion I will never play this silly lottery game anymore – although if I will be in time! To allot friends or guests – I don’t agree with this idea! If I will be invited, I will be invited because of my character, but I won’t be your friend per lottery!
I will try now to raise my mood a little bit in a different way. – Today I have to find some alternative to your blog. – I have no idea how to do till yet, but I never allow me to be down for a longer time.
Love
Monika
What a really nice thing to do.
Unfortunately,like many others,I cannot come.Perhaps next year.
Hope you’ll have a nice time.
:)
Dear Paulo,
I saw the update this morning.I’m planning to go back home later in the Spring, so hopefully I get to meet my favorite author and friend.
I wish you and everybody the very best – laughter, dance, drinks (in moderation…) and a happy Saint Joseph’s Party 2009 to all -
I’ll be thinking of you,
Love
:D
Dear Paulo,
I saw the update this morning.
Sounds like a lot of fun.
I wish you and everybody the very best – laughter, dance, drinks (in moderation…) and a happy Saint Joseph’s Party 2009 to all -
I’ll be thinking of you,
Love
:D
This is what happens when you are famous.
Every body wants to meet you and talk with you, but deep down you know you are not different than all of those around you.
Have a nice party Paulo and those who were invited.
I am poor guy, My Pocket is empty and even if, Paulo personally invites me, I cannot come.
Because I belive that oneday, I will be able to invite Paulo not the other way around. (I hope this becomes reality.)
One word I can teach you in Finnish,
Kippis (Cheers) !
:)
Hi Paulo,
Its really great to know that you conduct this party every year. Its just great idea to catch up with everyone at least once in a year. I wish to visit the party someday.. when I have enough money to afford the air tickets and lodging :)
For now.. its all my wishes I’m sending along here :)
Take care
Antara
Hi Paulo
I think that this is a fantastic idea and I hope you have a great time meeting with friends old and new. I would love to be able to meet you in person (maybe one day) as your books have helped me understand more about myself and the journey I am on. I would like to thank you for helping me understand things, as my struggle has been long and hard fighting against the black dogs of depression and anger but your books make the fight seem a little easier and as I get older things are beginning to change.
As I say I would love to attend your party but I live in Australia. I have always wanted to visit Brazil but on 2 occasions changes in the path have stopped me from being able to visit you homeland.
Have a great party and once again thank you;-)
John
Can’t believe I missed this one, having made a habit of reading your blog everyday… And while reading it, I thought I am amongst the first ones. Then I saw the date and it was published on 2nd Feb. Boo, hoo, hoo…Then that clearly means destiny is at work…
i would be happy to get some pic, from the up coming party,,,, if u ever come to canada, i will be more than happy to join this event,,, ill be with u in my heart!!!
orly
Hi,
I still remember the first time you mentioned your last party way back in myspace. I’m no longer there, so have missed many of your bulletins. I do hope you have a tremendous time with all your family and friends.
All the best
Rosalina
Haha, I sent the e-mail and than read the adnotation that it’s all full!
But for a second, I was on the plane to Paris, looking forward to meet other warriors of light. And for the wonderfullness of even that second, my dear Paulo, I am grateful.
Love,
Anlao
Living in Paris makes it even more disappoiting to miss the event.
But above all, I think it’s great. It shows howmuch you understand what Internet and the social network are all about.
Next time I’m sure I’ll be there! ;-)
Love
Hi
This is a wonderful thing to do….!
I met you in Gothenburg, Sweden a few years ago together with a lot of others. It was at the book Fair and hundreds were waiting to get your signature and maybe a few words. I was one of them…. I remember it like yesterday…..You were wearing black….and seemed very peaceful with the situation…and gave “a little” to everyone. I remember thinking and wondering what it would be like to sit and talk to you for a longer time…..and I still wonder….
I hope I can meet you some day….somewhere….maybe at one of your annual parties.
Lots of love….Carita.
Still trying , invite me please!
i wished once to meet u and it has happend ,so perhaps it will happen the secound.
I am coming too late… Maybe some other day.
I request that you come to the United States. Doesn’t matter which coast, however, not to be selfish, but the East Coast would be nice – maybe New York or even Washington, DC, you know we have a new President. Maybe you can come to our Nation’s Capital and have a party at Sweet Georgia Brown’s (Southern Hospitality Restaurant).
How I would love to attend a party in Paris to meet you. I will be patient understanding that all roads meet at one turn or another. I look forward to the day I am blessed to have you sign ALL of your books I have in my possession. But if you can only sign one…it would be Eleven Minutes.
Have fun!
Puxa…
não tenho blog, e nem dinheiro!!!
estou fora!
desejo uma ótima festa e que se divirtam muito!!!
Lillian Sanpere Tarragona wrote
at 10:19am
Paulo, I hope to attend one of your parties someday. I would like to recommend your next party be held in Valencia, Spain for their patron St. Joseph festivities, Las Fallas. It is an incredible experience that I think would be so appropriate for your theme. Not to mention the craziness of it all. I hope the party I attend will be that one. Love
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