Way Up in the Pines

 We had a lovely time meeting way up river at Mary's home and were pleasantly surprised to see Chris Peek who just returned from Arizona for the summer.  We caught up, shared stories and enjoyed a nice late-spring evening.  Maureen brought some of her mother's books to share with us and, true to our month's read, feasted on beef stew and biscuits.  

"This Tender Land" by William Kent Krueger followed the journey of four orphans as they headed for the Mississippi River in a canoe searching for a place to call home.  Placed during the Depression, they crossed paths with several other individuals who were also adrift and searching for a new life.  Along this journey the orphans learn about life and how they fit in this world.

The writing was eloquent and there were several quotes worth saving.  Here are a few: "With every turn of the river, the world had become broader, its mysteries more complex, its possibilities endless."  "There is a river that runs through time and the universe, vast and inexplicable, a flow of spirit that is at the heart of all existence, and every molecule of our being is a part of it."  "I still struggle to understand what I know in my heart is a mystery beyond human comprehension.  Perhaps the most important truth I've learned across the whole of my life is that it's only when I yield to the river and embrace the journey that I find peace."

Tea Party!

 We enjoyed gathering at Judy Schmidt's home and shared a Seder meal.  Judy had information on the different dishes being served and their meaning.  We also enjoyed a tea party of green tea chai and assorted cookies, all served on Judy's beautiful floral tea set.  It was perfect for today as the sun was out and spring is finally sharing its abundant flowers.

We discussed our read, "People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks.  It is a historical novel of the Sarajevo Haggada, one of the "oldest surviving Jewish illuminated texts" (Wikipedia).  It is a good lesson in cultural history, moving back through time as this rare manuscript, created with Orthodox icons, Islamic calligraphy and Catholic pages was lost and found, being passed to many individuals who kept it safe.  The narrator of this story is Hannah, a book conservator hired to restore the Haggada.  During the restoration, Hannah finds clues of its past, taking us back through time to experience life at several key moments.  This story shows that "what united us was more than what divided us.  That to be a human being matters more than to be a Jew or a Muslim, Catholic or Orthodox."

Slowing Down

 We had an enjoyable evening at Claudia's home and all were glad it didn't snow.  Our pot luck had a nice selection of all the right nourishing things, with lots of time to chat and share stories of our lives.

Our read this month was "Upstream" by Mary Oliver, a well-known poet who gained her language from the books she surrounded herself with while growing up.  This was a collection of short essays cobbled together which gave insight into those things which influenced Mary's life; in essence her memoir.  There was no strong conclusion, rather reflections which each reader could consider.  We did not delve in with deep discussion about the book; rather we shared our individual thoughts as we reflected on our own lives.  Chris shared a few of her favorite Mary Oliver poems which told of Mary's relationship with the environment.  I said I was amazed that one person could spend days observing a spider and it's nest.  I don't have the patience to spend my time that way, yet, it was pointed out, I do have the patience to concentrate my focus on making a basket.  Judy B and Debbie shared stories about themselves and their families; memories which sprang forth as they spent time reflecting on the past.  

The whole world changes slowly day by day; nothing remains the same.  There are ties we don't see in the history of our lives, how things fit together, their influences on events and how we change as a result.  Not only people, but places change too.  We reflected on the history of Entiat and how many things changed after Rocky Reach Dam was built.  Entire livelihoods had to shift and accommodate.  Not always for the worst, just different.

Parts of this book really drew me in and seemed so clear while other parts left me dazed and confused - too deep for me to grasp any clarity.  But it did make me pause and consider.  I think, to really understand, this book should be read, bit by bit, with a group and discussed each step of the way.  That would slow you down long enough to take in all Mary wants us to learn.

Moments of our lives spent in nature, in the world, absorbing what surrounds us, are time wisely spent.  In Mary Oliver's words: "I would say that there exist a thousand unbreakable links between each of us and everything else, and that our dignity and our chances are one,  The farthest star and the mud at our feet are a family; and there is not decency or sense in honoring one thing, or a few things, and then closing the list.  The pine tree, the leopard, the Platte River, and ourselves - we are at risk together, or we are on our way to a sustainable world together.  We are each other's destiny.    

I could not be a poet without the natural world.  Someone else could.  But not me.  For me the door to the woods is the door to the temple."

Who Doesn't Love a Dog Story?

 Thank you Maureen for hosting our meeting in your lovely home.  We all enjoyed the warmth of friendship along with a good meal and thought-provoking discussion.  

Take one self-focused, self-centered ultra marathoner and add in one determined little dog.  You get a heart-warming, true story of strangers coming together in a foreign land for the good of this one lucky little pooch.  Gobi proved to be strong and resilient and certainly was attracted to the person who most needed companionship.  Dion was ultra-focused on his goal of being on the podium or winning this race and he wasn't planning on letting anything get in his way.  This ultra marathoner had ultra tunnel vision.  But he had a concern about Gobi and opened his heart.  Bringing a dog home to the UK from China is no simple matter but fate worked in Gobi's favor.  Dion made a promise to Gobi of safety and security because Dion never had these growing up.  He was amazed at the outpouring of help and happiness by so many strangers because Gobi put a smile on people's faces.  Dion also learned that "working as a team, rather than a bunch of individuals, wasn't nearly as bad as I used to think it would be."  He learned to count on other people and realized that his areas of weakness were covered by other's strengths.  "I didn't have to shoulder the work all on my own.  I could lean on the others, and they could take it.  They didn't let me down.  And I didn't fail them either."  We all learned a bit about China and found that people all around the world are similar to us.

Our next book, "Upstream" by Mary Oliver, is a short book so we set the date of March 9th, 5:30pm at Claudia's home for our next meeting.  Looking forward to seeing you there.

Crime, Punishment and Mercy

 Thank you Esther for providing us another wonderful evening filled with great nourishment.  Two delicious soups and homemade bread.  Always warm and cozy, just like home!  With all our shared contributions it was quite the feast.  

Esther noted that it was fortunate this discussion coinsided with the Martin Luther King holiday as our book, "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson, was set in the South and dealt with racial injustices.  Although a difficult subject to read about, we had a lively conversation on equal justice, or lack thereof.  There is an unfairness based on ethnicity, social class and gender, and the punishment does not always reflect the crime.  It take small steps over many years to make changes, even when the needed changes are obvious.  Time and patience are the rule. 

Carl Sagan Quote

"A book is made from a tree. It is an assemblage of flat, flexible parts (still called ‘leaves’) imprinted with dark pigmented squiggles. One glance at it and you hear the voice of another person - perhaps someone dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, the author is speaking, clearly and silently, inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people, citizens of distant epochs, who never knew one another. Books break the shackles of time, proof that humans can work magic."

-Carl Sagan, Cosmos

 

Tropical Evening

 We met at the Entiat Fire Station, arranged by Chris M, for our December gathering.  Our read for the month, "Daughter of Moloka'i", started and somewhat ended in Hawaii so our pot luck had a definite Hawaiian/Japanese "flavor".  We enjoyed quite an array of tastes.  Esther brought some home made tofu and Mary researched a typical Manzanar dinner dish for us to share.  We also had Yakasobi, pineapple and sushi.  Different and very tasty!  Judy B brought an example of a Japanese quilted Washi paper lidded box.  

"Daughter of Moloka'i" focuses on Ruth, the daughter of Rachel, who had Hansen's disease.  Rachel had to give Ruth up for adoption at birth to protect her from contracting Hansen's.  Throughout her life, Ruth wondered about her past and why she was sent to an orphanage.  Unknowingly, Ruth's life bore similarities to Rachel's life as Ruth and her family were sent to Manzanar internment camp during WWII.  We discussed this similarity and somewhat decided that Rachel's "imprisonment" on Moloka'i was worse than Ruth's imprisonment at Manzanar as Rachel thought she would live her entire life on Moloka'i.

This was our annual Christmas gift book wrapping event as well as the last chance to contribute to our Christmas jar for 2022.

Esther will host our next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 18, 2023.  See you then.  Aloha!