A Compassionate Evening

Thank you Judy for hosting a delicious tuna bake potluck for "A Streetcat Named Bob".  As always, everyone brought delicious dishes to share.  It was so nice to gather together with friends at the end of a windy and smokey day.  Our thoughts were with those who were evacuated or facing evacuation as a result of the Mad River and Cougar Creek fires, a different sort of homelessness and one which, hopefully, will be temporary. 

This month's book focused on a young, homeless, drug abusing musician in London and how he was able to turn his life around when he rescued a cat - or did the cat rescue him?  His concern for the welfare of his new companion provided the motivation James Bowen needed to kick his habit, take responsibility and live a better life.  "Ordinarily, no one would engage or even exchange a look with me...I didn't exist.  I was a person to be avoided, shunned even.  But...almost every person we passed looked at me (and) Bob.  Most people were reacting more warmly...  their faces would break into broad smiles."      "(Bob) seemed to make friends with almost everyone he met."  "Bob wasn't just changing people's attitude to me: he was changing my attitude to others as well."  "Thanks to him I'd rediscovered the good side of human nature.  I had begun to place my trust - and faith - in people again."

We all now have a different point of view about those who do live on the streets and what their lives might be like.  We also have increased knowledge of drug abuse and what it takes to kick the habit and turn your life around.  "...each of us is given second chances every day of our lives."

A Memoir

Thank you Maureen for a great evening enjoying your beautiful view! And thank you for honoring author Sherman Alexi’s Spokane Indian tribal heritage by serving smoked salmon pasta salad. Salmon is considered a deity, providing physical and spiritual sustenance to the “Salmon people” for thousands of years.

“You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” is a book of poems surrounded by wandering random essays (thanks Chris Peek) “constructed in fabric squares like one of (his) mom’s quilts.” This very cultural memoir runs the gamut of teen angst, family dynamics and growing up on the reservation. It is Sherman’s grief journal as he attempts to resolve conflicted feelings about his relationship with his mother. Sherman easily let’s his father off the hook for being an irresponsible adult, but holds his mother to task for being the responsible parent and doing her best to provide for her family and keep them safe. I found it interesting, sad and discouraging to view tribal life through Indian eyes. “Because an Indian’s wealth is determined by what they lose and not by what they save.”

Along the River

We spent a lovely evening at Chris' home on the Columbia river.  Western themed pot luck anchored with delicious chili was enjoyed by all.  Also much conversation, including comments on the movie "The Book Club" which some of us had viewed together.

"The Virginian" is a classic, being written by Owen Wister in 1902.  It was the first true fictional western novel written, which paved the way for this new genre.  Being a classic, we all struggled with the written English of the day, it seeming so very formal.  This slowed the reading as we had to concentrate on the author's meaning.  I suppose novels written today will need to be full of footnotes describing phrases (OMG, LOL), actions (tweet, blog) and things (TSA) common today.  This novel had all the elements you would include in a western: ranches, cattle, gambling, drinking, frontier justice.  It establishes "the man of few words" figure which is central to most westerns.  It also has romance (yes, the handsome cowboy gets the girl) as well as a portrait of what it means to be a man: living simply with nature and having a strong moral conviction.  It is a study of action & violence, hate & revenge, friendship & love.  It also illustrates that the conditions of society were similar over 100 years ago: social class, racism, quality vs. equality.  "It's not a brave man who is dangerous, it's the coward who scares me."

We are gathering our next book picks, so be sure to contact Esther with your book title.  Our July meeting will be held at Maureen's home on July 5th.  Looking forward to seeing you there!

Email Meeting, then June meeting

It was decided that the ratings for the book The Heirs and comments will be reported to Esther and Claudia for the Blog and if Chris Peek can host the June meeting, it will be at her home for the May selection, The Virginian.

Women and WWII

Thanks to Debbie G for the delicious German soup, and everyone for all the other yummy contributions.  It was so nice to gather around and share friendship along with our book discussion. 

This month's read was "The Women of the Castle" by Jessica Shattuck.  It was yet another WWII story, but with a decidedly different view.  The story brought together three German women, of different social statuses and political views, and their families during the war.  As with other WWII stories, we expected it to end when the war ended.  Though the war was a major driving factor, the story went beyond the 40's, moving into the 50's and how people were coping with their life's changes after the war ("It was so ugly.  The peace and plenty of this time were like a thin quilt spread over a pile of shit.  No one was innocent.") and then into current times. One woman wants to "put the past away and be done with the horrible time."  Another "holds it close and lets it shape her life."  The third "didn't lie, she just didn't share the truth with us."  For some, "history came above everything else."  For others, "history was death", a "horrible, long, sloppy tale of grief."  It was interesting to see how these women became friends during the war and how their lives and friendship changed and evolved post-war.  It was about more than self-preservation; it was about protecting their children.  "Sometimes it is easier to see clearly from a distance.  And what is up close...is harder to make out."  We all reflected that none of us could be sure what our beliefs would be or what side we would support if we were in the same situation.  "There is so much gray between the black and the white...and this is where most of us live, trying, but so often failing, to bend toward the light." 

Our May meeting will be hosted by Barbara.  She will be contacting us via email to set the meeting date and time.  Stay tuned!

Walking in the Woods

Chris M's home was the perfect setting for our discussion of "Grandma Gatewood's Walk" being tucked back into the woods.  And Chris shares similarities with Grandma Gatewood: love of hiking, noticing the plants and flowers, appreciating the serenity of nature.  It goes without saying that the food we enjoyed was great - and was a far more nourishing meal than that which sustained Grandma Gatewood.

The notion to walk the entire length of the Appalachian Trail bloomed inside Grandma Gatewood.  In 1955, at the age of 67, with minimal supplies and a change of clothes in her home-made sack, wearing tennis shoes, Grandma Gatewood began her journey.  She told her children she was going for a walk, but didn't mention where she was heading.  Her years of farm life seemed to be enough preparation for her, being a strong and resilient woman.  "There were a million heavenly things to see and a million spectacular ways to die." 

The author included different aspects of post-war life and how they influenced Grandma Gatewood and the Appalachian Trail.  Some of us found this information interesting while others found it to be a distraction from Grandma Gatewood's story.  He also explored Grandma Gatewood's life and the many challenges she faced in her marriage.  She went on to hike the Appalachian Trail a total of three times and also hiked the Oregon Trail.  It is estimated that she hiked 14,000 miles in her later years.

"Remote for detachment,
Narrow for chosen company,
Winding for leisure,
Lonely for contemplation,
the Trail leads not merely north and south
but upward to the body, mind and soul of man."
-Appalachian Trail summary by Harold Allen

When asked by reporters why she was hiking, she replied "Because, I wanted to."

Our next meeting will be April 5th at Debbie Deardorff's home.  We'll see you there!

Life's Lessons

Thank you Nika for hosting our gathering.  Yummy soup and breads along with everyone's offerings - so pleasant to share food and conversation.  A warm and cozy evening with friends.

Our book was "Still Life" by Louise Penny, a debut book and the first of a murder mystery series.  Not extravagant and flashy, but written with common conversations set in a homey community.  Well developed characters, many seemed like they could be neighbors.  Although a murder mystery, there were also comments and lessons on life and our own decisions about our own lives.  Making choices about who we are and how we want to live; what we should do to be happy or stand still lose ourselves.    "If we can accept that nothing is permanent, and change is inevitable, if we can adapt, then we're going to be happier people."  "The fault lies with us, and only us.  Ultimately it's us and our choices....We're the only ones who can change our lives, turn them around" "Life is change.  If you aren't growing and evolving you're standing still and the rest of the world is surging ahead."  "The prayer stick, its brightly colored ribbons catching the wind, sending their gifts into the air, knocking against each other.  Like true friends.  Bumping, and sometimes hurting, though never meaning to."

Our next meeting will be March 8th, 5:30, at the home of Chris Mallon.  Looking forward to seeing everyone there for another wonderful evening of sharing books and friendship.