January 10, 2004

• Reading Pleasures

  
  

       I've just finished the most marvelously satisfying book.  It's rich with interesting and very real characters.  Let me share with you the opening paragraphs ...

  
  

       Once upon a time, there wasa woman who discovered she had turned into the wrong person.
       She was fifty-three years old by then - a grandmother.  Wide and soft and dimpled, with two short wings of dry fair hair flaring almost horizontally from a center part.  Laugh lines at the corners of her eyes.  A loose and colorful style of dress edging dangerously close to Bag Lady.
       Give her credit: most people her age would say it was too late to make any changes.  What's done is done, they would say.  No use trying to alter things at thie late date.
       It did occur to Rebecca to say that.  But she didn't.

  
  

       Anne Tyler writes the story of Rebecca Davitch in a way that makes us start rooting for her on the first page and keeps us turning and hoping all the way through.  Back When We Were Grown-ups is a novel about second chances and growing up at every stage of life.  Rebecca imagines how her life would have been different if she had made different choices at crucial points.  Her introspection takes place as Rebecca plans and orchestrates lavish parties.  The contrast of the work she puts into celebration and the ease with which she enters growth is a fascinating study of the way our experience seldom matches common wisdom or expectation. 

  
  

       Today is my sister, Sam's birthday.  I won't tell you how old she is, except to say that she's two years younger than me.    I sent her a card, but I forgot to mail it until Wednesday so she probably won't get it until next week sometime.  Don't you HATE when you remember to buy the card, address the card, stamp the card, and drop it in the mail days before the birthday but you know that it's going to be late anyway?  It's a good card though.  Made me laugh. 

  
  

       I've been noticing that Tucker's socks don't match again.  The reason that I am noticing this is because all of a suggen his ankles are showing out the legs of every pair of pants he has.  So today, Tim and I are making a trip up to the outlet mall near Indianapolis to do some shopping.  You guys have a great Saturday.  Stay warm or cool or whatever will oppose the extreme of the season in which you are spending your January. 

  
  

       And everyone didn't Tina do a FABULOUS job with the redesign of my site?  I'm thrilled. 

  
  

   

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