We all know those mean mother-in-law jokes: What do you do if you miss your mother in law? Reload, and try again! My mother in law is well balanced. She has a chip on both shoulders. Is there a family relationship more burdened? Tempting fate, I went to the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) with my daughter-in-law, Margo, last week. We went to hear Elizabeth Gilbert speak about her new book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear.     Margo is pragmatic. She is a nurse and scientifically minded. On our way to BAM, Margo rattled off a list of over 32 things she’d done that day, including errands in Brooklyn and New Jersey, tending to her children, helping with homework, meeting with a painter and just before leaving her house, giving an injection to a pregnant friend. I, on the other hand, tinkered with a story idea for most of the day. And to tell you the truth, I was feeling a bit down about that. It is hard to stay home, facing an empty screen and have what appears to be nothing accomplished at the end of the day. Of course, I know this is not really true but Elizabeth Gilbert’s message couldn’t have come at a better time. She assured the creative souls in her audience that we were doing exactly what we were supposed to be doing and she encouraged us to keep at it. She talked about fairy dust and inspiration but she also talked about hard work and perseverance. She talked about the voices in her head, how they take up space and how she lets them come alive: The Doubter, The Critic, Fear—and while that process didn’t sound so crazy to me, Margo diagnosed her with multiple personality disorder. You’re probably wondering why my not necessarily artsy daughter-in-law wanted to hear Elizabeth Gilbert talk about creativity, especially considering she is one of the few people in the world who didn't even read Eat Pray Love. Or see the movie. This is how it happened. I was supposed to be going to the BAM with my husband but he forgot and bought tickets to the Giants game. I invited my daughter but she opted out. My son, Margo’s husband, was going to the football game with his dad and Margo didn't want to stay home. I promised her a drink after the reading and let’s just say it didn’t take a lot of arm-twisting. My oldest daughter kept smirking, doubting the whole prospect. But she was wrong; because while Margo and I are not exactly alike (I drink vodka, she drinks tequila) we both loved the event, and the hole-in-the-wall bar we found afterwards with live music. Granted, it was a bit awkward when two men started talking to us but we left soon after and found a great restaurant. I know I’m in the right place when there are vegan options on the menu. It’s not always easy for us to find time to get together much less share intimacies. But that night, we learned new things about each other. A mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law: loving each other, respecting each other, caring about each other. Now that’s art. That’s Big Magic.