Be Kind Anyway

The Paradoxical Commandments, by Kent M. Keith. 

Written on paper, posted on the wall in Mother Teresa's room.  Words she wanted to read over and over again. Humbling. Thank you Beth. 

Dear Life...

Dear Alice,

You capture the moment with so few words. Your stories aren't sparkly sizzlers, they are smoldering embers. They are everyday people.

They convey quiet resolve, loneliness, brief lapses in responsibilities, inner strength, realism, aging. 

They are our thoughts and indiscretions. 
Thank you Alice. 

Sincerely, The Lucky Thirteen

Dear Betty, 

We sit here nourished by your fresh greens and fruits, amazed by your transferred pie crusted quiche, spell bound by your heritage camellias, and elevated by the conversation all the fore mentioned inspired. 

Thank you for opening your home to us once again so graciously. We love first Fridays!

With fondness, The Lucky Thirteen




Dear Lucky Thirteen, 

If you weren't there today, we missed you. These stories were thoughtful and conversation-provoking. Linda found an interview with Alice, gathered after winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2013. 

If you were at Betty's to the end, you now know what a "selfie" is.

The TV show we talked about is Masterpiece Theatre's Mr. Selfridge (available on Netflix or iTunes). It's about Chicagoan Harry Selfridge (Jeremy Pivens) opening the cutting-edge Selfridge's department store in 1908 London. Lots of drama.  Reminds me totally of Downton Abbey, except London, more affairs, and retail. 

Most importantly, February's book is The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt. Lengthy, but worth it. 

  And YES Betty, gather us for a movie next week. Or anyone!

All the best, 
An Admirer

Dear Life: To Reach Japan

How's Dear Life going?

Munro is an author to savor, not to read on the beach or the in doctor's office or at the exercise bike. Unless those are your most thoughtful moments. Then go for it.

Heard from someone that the weren't moved by the first stories. I get it. That's why we read variety of books.

These are stories to mull over. To help us focus next Friday, could we try to pick out one story that talked to us? And highlight a sentence or two from that story to read Friday.

Let me tell you what kept going through my head last night at 3 AM. How much Greta (from the first story To Reach Japan) is like me.

Now, I have never done the "Gig with Greg" in the train compartment, nor "Hugged with Harris holding Roses" upon arrival in Toronto.

But I so so so often slip into the very behavior I don't want to do. I catch myself and tell myself, 'Never again.' (Like Greta when she lost Katy on the train, never again would she be irresponsible, cheat on Peter, loose Katy.)

Then faced with temptation that inner voice says, 'It's not so bad.' Greg says to Greta when they are starting their canoodling, 'It isn't us, it's some other people.' The serpent says to Eve as they eyed the apple, 'Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden?'

Boom. Rationalization happens. I eat another cookie. I spread a little gossip. Greta falls into Harris' arms. Eve takes a bite.

Look downward.  Katy's hand is free from her mother's once again. Collateral damage.

Oh man.

And we feel for Greta. She has lived stifled. "That's what I do. I save myself up, most of the the time. Careful with Katy, careful with Peter."  Her thoughts on judgement at the party. She really did try to be a good mom to Katy.

Well, anyway. Thank you Munro for this glimpse into Greta's mind.

For February's Book, the Goldfinch.

An article in CBS, thanks to Beth for sending this link. 

I know this is a month early, but we have always been a bit before our times, haven't we?