My Book Club

Happy Anniversary, Book Club!

I am in an amazing book club.   Not everyone can say that.  We just celebrated our five year anniversary at The Melting Pot on Tuesday, August 15, 2012.   We meet each Tuesday at Amy's home.  She is our fabulous leader, and I can safely speak for everyone when I say we love her dearly.  I can also speak for everyone when I say our book club is about more than just books.

Book club has grown and evolved over the last five years adding and subtracting members, embracing the addition of spouses, children, and new careers, sharing in each other's sorrows and joys, and celebrating life together.  I cherish Tuesday nights and am very blessed to know and spend time with each of these amazing ladies!

Rockefeller Plaza, New York City

We take turns selecting a book and leading discussion questions.   I've had the honor of leading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, and most recently, Bossypants by Tina Fey.  We usually take around 5-6 weeks to finish each book, and we will have field trips or activities relating to each book. Sometimes we will watch the movie or one that relates to the book.  We wrote letters to our fathers or grandfathers after reading To Kill a Mockingbird, visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., after reading The Hiding Place, picked peaches and blueberries at a local orchard after The Grapes of Wrath, and went to the local Greek Festival and on a whirlwind tour of New York City after reading Bossypants.

New York Subway

There is a chapter in Bossypants called "I Don't Care If You Like It (One in a series of love letters to Amy Poehler)" where Tina Fey described how happy she was when Amy Poehler started working with her.  I modified it and gave everyone currently in book club a copy.

I Don't Care If You Like It

(One in a series of love letters to Book Club)

by Suzanne DeWitt

 (as inspired by Tina Fey's Bossypants)

I was so happy.  Weirdly, I remember thinking, "My friend is here!  My friend is here!"  Even though things had been going great for me at the show, with {book club} there, I felt less alone. 

Just as Tina learned from Amy to "do her thing and don't care if they like it," I have learned some valuable lessons or life mantras from each of you! 



Shirley Plantation

Amy:  Silence is golden.  I can't think of anyone else I'd want to be stuck with at Arlington National Cemetery during a bomb threat/metro shut down than you.  Dolly Parton and Aretha Franklin's songs make beautiful poetry...especially if you wear a beret when reciting them.  If it's yellow, let it mellow.  If it's brown, flush it down.



Christine:  If you want something done, do it yourself.  Nothing stops you!  Whether it's running a marathon every month for a year, planning a huge birthday bash for you, your hubby, or your kids, you are WONDER WOMAN!  I am truly amazed at all your talents.  I want to be like you when I grow up.

Jesse:  Confidence and teamwork can help you win the game "Signs."  One of the first times I met you, I was blown away with the amazing way you and Craig worked together to throw and catch signs at the Ralls' Christmas party.  So covert!  You also stole the show with your one of a kind pig toilet paper holder and showed that you fit right in!  I love all the Rocco stories.  One of my favorites is the Popsicle and the shower!  {I would like to add how impressed I am that Jesse traveled via overnight bus with us to New York City when she was 7 months pregnant!  I never heard her complain, and she was an absolute DELIGHT the entire trip!  She also brought a nail file along which I ended up needing as soon as we entered the subway when I broke my nail down to the quick.  Hooray for Jesse!}



Laurie:  A little bit of humor goes a long way.  I truly enjoy doing comedic bits with you from Bon Qui Qui to reciting lines of a funny movie.  Did you just come from work?  What kind of name is Stove?  Not everyone is Chinese.  If I ever need to know how the Yankees are doing or what's happening in politics or in the land of medical insurance, I know you'll know the answer.

The Melting Pot Anniversary Dinner:
The beginning of a wonderful tradition

Lindsay D.:  Your loyalty knows no bounds.  I watched how you helped Nancy when Rebekah was born, and how faithful you've been to visit her whenever you can after she moved to Pennsylvania.  I admire how loyal you are to your friends, family, the Yankees, and even your favorite bands:  Anthem Lights and Hanson.  "Mmmbop, ba duba dop, ba du bop, ba duba dop, ba du bop bad du..."

Lindsey R.:  You need to get over that in about one minute.  You inspire me with your can-do-it-but-I-won't-get-frazzled-about-it spirit.  Need 23 generous bowls of pineapple dip whipped up by hand?  Lindsey can do it without batting an eye...and did I mention she was almost 8 months pregnant...and that there was a shortage of pineapples (and by shortage, I mean there were none!)?  These are the stories we will tell our children.  You even make spreadsheets fun.  Everything is experimental at this point.  I know if we're driving somewhere, I want to be in your car.

Mandy:  I had 3 choices:  deer, truck, ditch.  I'm totally taking the deer!  Your compassionate heart astounds me every week when I hear you've added another student to your docket, and somehow managed to incorporate another grade level's schedule!  You are like the Army.  You do more before 8 a.m. than most people do all day!

Mary:  Everyone has a little Shaquandra in them.  You make me laugh without saying a word.  You are smart and funny...a powerful combination!  I love your honesty and affection for wine!  You have the special gift of making a person feel like she is your best friend. 



Erin's bridal shower

Nancy:  Treat your friends like family, and treat your family like friends.  I have so appreciated how you make your friends feel at home.  You make everything fun.  I have never heard you say a negative thing about anyone.  Somehow you always manage to see the good side to everyone.  I often ask myself, "How would Nancy deal with this?"  You taught me it's okay to laugh about boobies.

Rachel:  You are no longer a rooky.  You've passed all the requirements for book club:  extensive reading to catch up, bringing yummy homemade caramel corn, moving half way across the nation, and being an amazing sister and auntie!  I can't remember what it was like before you got here, because it feels like you've been here from the beginning!  Let's go before the man riding on his tractor comes and shoos us away...and by tractor, I mean wheelchair!

Christine's epic birthday soiree!

Suzy: When Suzy talks, people listen.  The more I know you, the more I want to know you better!  You can be quiet at times, but I believe you are a riot!  You don't waste words, and you are so much fun to be around whether it's driving to a funeral, helping women dip their hands in paraffin, or playing Quelf (Did I spell that right?)!

To read some other raves about this wonderful book club's special anniversary dinner, read Amy's blog post here. (She has the complete list of books we've read over the last five years!)

Or Lindsey R.'s post here. (She also has a fun give away that you can give me for my birthday if you win...I like the green and yellow one!)

Or Christine's post here.  (She has a hilarious joke about queso...oh my goodness...so cute!  Check it out!)