About the Author
Patricia Passmore Alley
Most of my family called me Trish, because Patty Passmore was just too much. My Father, if you are wondering, called me Paddington. Rare Bear. Being rare has its challenges and opportunities. Grace helps me navigate both.
Born and raised near Philadelphia, I took the scenic route to Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom: Texas, Alabama, California…and Burlington. We say in the Kingdom, “The nice thing about Burlington is it’s so close to Vermont.”
I have been a leader across sectors, public and private, profit and social impact. Sometimes I felt called, even ordained in my calling, and sometimes I drifted with anything from anxious to loving curiosity.
Defining Grace: Showing Up With The Gift of Divine Mischief is a compilation of stories, poems, and practices that have shown up in my life journey so far. Grace is my guide on the journey. Grace. How do we look to something we cannot see? We notice where She has been. I tripped over Grace on my way to giving up hope. She illuminated my path, got me back on track.
Defining Grace is a noticing of where Grace has been and continues to cause Divine Mischief in an extraordinarily ordinary life—mine. Grace knows my heart and yours, our souls’ yearnings. She is an unprecedented partner in manifesting the culturally improbable.
Thank you for joining me on the journey. Let’s practice putting down Grace Tracks together.
Emerson Alley
I was born in West Charleston, Vermont on July 20, 2006. I came from a distinguished line of yellow Labrador Retrievers. I adopted Trish Alley when I was eight weeks old. She came to visit me and my siblings, and I was the one who ran to greet her. I was also the most handsome in my family. It was love at first sight for both of us.
I was an instigator and collaborator of much mischief, mostly Divine. I was appointed Ambassador of Unconditional Love at WholeHeart, Inc. in 2013. You could find me on their website when I was on staff. I was so more than a mascot. I was the center of attention. Paying attention is important.
I was an instrument of Grace, even when I lay on my back with all fours in the air in meetings. It was my way of saying, “Get real,” or “Lighten up.”
I wrote the Alley’s Holiday Letter every year. This was another way of being Graceful. I had a way with words, you see. Some people think I was named after Ralph Waldo. Could be.
You can read more about me in Defining Grace: Showing Up with The Gift of Divine Mischief. You can always reach me through Trish. If you don’t hear back right away, we are meeting in meditation. I suppose you could call me a ghost writer.
