June Meeting

Discussion

Karen:

Hello Bluestockings!

I am stepping in for Jenn who is in the middle of packing her house to move. I am such a slacker (still trying to get through a book from two months ago) that I have not finished Gift from the Sea and am unable to begin a good discussion about it. I can, however, share a quote by the author that I have always loved. (Maybe someone can tell me if it comes from this book!) I once saw a wall hanging that said, "My life cannot implement in action the demands of all the people to whom my heart responds." -Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I wrote it down because I kept thinking about it. I don't know if this is what she meant by that, but I often feel like I am unable to show all those that I love just how much I love and appreciate them. I often find myself wishing that I had thought to do a little something for someone, but didn't get around to it. One of my goals is to at least remember people's birthdays and to let them know I am thinking about them. Still working on that one!

Anywho...That is my sad contribution. Hopefully some of you did better than I with this book.

As I remember it, Christina chose Gilead for June. Has someone been assigned to choose for July? If we've gone through everyone, should we start over in the same order or is there someone who has a book they're dying to choose? Let me know, and happy reading!

Micah:

Thanks Karen! Now that quote it definitely some food for thought! And I feel the same way. I'm always making excuses as to why I can't show love to everyone I want to...but like Karen said, we have to start somewhere. I was humbled when I ran the SLC marathon and I had some friends drop my by a bottle of gatorade or a gel...not much but they just wanted to let me know they were thinking of me.

But I digress.....the thing I found most interesting as I read Gift from the Sea was how pertinent the things she said seemed for today....right now...but she wrote the book how many years ago??? Many. She could have written it yesterday for all I know. It was a fun read with lots of things to think about. Sorry I don't have anything deeper than that to add. :)

Hope all is well with everyone!

Ann:

Yes Karen, your quote is from pg 124, and how do I know that? Because I finished the book! Yippee! I really loved the whole thing but especially the last couple of sections. I salivate for the chance to spend a quiet month on an island to just live simply and have only me to worry about for a short time. She talked about how at home there is so little empty space in her day that she can't find herself. "Too may activities, and people, and things. Too many worthy activities, valuable things, and interesting people. For it is not merely the trivial which clutters our lives but the important as well." That was one thing I really liked about my field work in Myton and up in Washington...I had lots of space for walking and for thinking. And then when I was done with work for the day since I was pretty isolated from my social center and from town the tasks of cooking dinner and compiling field notes were satisfying and relaxing. So I guess I must simplify my existence somehow...maybe after girls camp. :)

PS: I believe it's Amy's turn to make a selection...c'mon Amy, I know you're out there!

Jenn:

A daily dose of this book could very well keep me from insanity. I've got to find it. . . it's driving me crazy. (hee hee lol)

Lisa:

I loved, loved, loved the book. I could reread it annually, I'm sure. I was going to copy down quotes before I returned it to the library- but, it would have been like the whole book. So, I'll just re-read.
Today I got sunburned at the beach with Scot. We decided the ocean here feels like Mother Nature's bathtub. The water is so warm! No great insights into life from our beachly sojourn, but enjoying it all the same. I did, however, go on a tour of a giant open-pit gold mine yesterday. I alternately wished I had Ann there (to understand the environmental jargon Graciellla, our tour guide, was using to explain what the environmental department at the mine does...training on environmental data management software is why I was there, indirectly, since that's why brought Scot, then me, to the Dominican Republic) and I also wanted Micah with us, because when Graciella wasn't speaking environmental she was speaking Spanish. And I couldn't understand either one. It was interesting to see part of what Scot does and where he is on some of his weeks away. Today he told me he'll probably be back here sometime within the next 3 months. That'll be his fifth trip, just here. We were trying to remember our last trip together, and remembered last summer he opted for a trip to Australia while I opted for childbirth. Unfortutnately, our plans overlapped. It's good to be together now.

Amy:

You're in the DR right now huh, Lisa? I've been touring (along with Brad and the kids) the Alamo, walking the River Walk and attempting wake boarding in Texas the last few days. Here on vacation with my sister's family, who resides in Austin. Having a blast, y'all.

Okay, Ann...I heard you and it's my turn to choose a book, huh? The book for this month is...

Two Old Women, by Velma Wallis

I like this book. There's a lot of potential to finish it in a month, as it's only 160 pages. And it's an interesting Alaskan legend. (Wallis also wrote a book called "Bird Girl," so...do you like her already?)

Happy reading!

Becca:

Hello Blue Stockings,

I read Gift from the Sea many years ago, but didn't read it last month. (My job situation has been a roller coaster and I'm just wrapping up another term at the Y.) However, I'm reminded of a favorite quote:

The cure for anything is salt water-- Sweat, Tears, or the Sea (Isak Dinesen)

I would love to trade my current sweat and tears (note the afore mentioned job roller coaster and BYU classes) for some quality time with the sea, but, alas, sweat and tears must do for now.

Lisa-- Please ride an extra wave and wonder at some pearly shells for each of us. We'll feel the sea-infused, good karmic sentiments you send our way.

The title of the next book intrigues me as I have long favored the name Gilead. I have a week between the finish of spring and start-up of summer semester and plan to put it to good reading use.

Have a lovely day!

Christina:

Hello All,

Yup, the book for June is Gilead. I hope you all don't mind if I start a discussion of it around June 20 because I'm leaving for vacation June 23rd. I love this book but I also have a lot of questions I was hoping maybe you guys could help answer about the book. It's one reason I chose to read it for this month. Sounds like a few of you have started vacations already, happy exploring!

Elisabeth:

Hopefully it's not too late to send my thoughts on Gifts From the Sea. I couldn't help but think back to The Bookseller of Kabul. How unfulfilled and monotonous the women's lives in The Bookseller were in comparison to the privileged, rich, full life that Anne Morrow Lindbergh lived. The youngest sister of the Bookseller wanted so badly to work, to have some fulfillment in her life, but she was completely oppressed and had no opportunity to better herself. Ann Morrow Lindbergh on the other hand is seeking a breath away from the unending pressures and demands of a full life. I felt that Lindbergh's insights helped me understand my mom better. When my dad and mom were first called to preside over the West Virginia Charleston mission, I was concerned about my mom's energy and health. I woke up from a dream sobbing because she had left my dad, the mission field and her family to go to a convent in Austria. I was sobbing, "How can you give up everything?!" I hadn't thought about this dream for years, but Gifts from the Sea reminded me of it. I now have daydreams about being alone in a beautiful, quiet place with no distractions!

Business
July Book: Two Old Women, by Velma Wallis
Chosen by: Amy Hansen