Monday Musing

Arriving today by 8 PM  

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Stuff I've ordered has been arriving later than promised lately, making me wonder if the orders had gotten lost or delivered to the wrong address.  Yet these TWO orders were both early, and they came together last Wednesday.  They were delivered on the same day my book had been delivered that morning (see HERE).  How very strange!  I went downstairs at 5:30 p.m. that day, and there was the box.  Yes, a single box with the pair of LED lamps and the 2023 planner, which were NOT ordered at the same time.

Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy ~ the little women

Meg's Story: Portraits of Little Women ~ by Susan Beth Pfeffer, 1997, children's, 112 pages

Meg March is the perfect young lady.  Her gracious manners and sweet personality make her very popular at school.  And when she is invited to Mary Howe's fancy picnic, she wants to go badly.  Nothing her tomboy sister, Jo, says against snobby Mary Howe changes Meg's mind.  Meg claims Jo is just jealous that she wasn't invited too.  But on the big day, the March parents are visiting friends, and the housekeeper is called away on an emergency.  Meg knows she should stay home to watch over her younger sisters — even if it means not going to the picnic.  Still, she doesn't want to miss the fun.  And forgetting her manners, Meg does something that turns the picnic into an unforgettable afternoon.

Jo's Story: Portraits of Little Women ~ by Susan Beth Pfeffer, 1997, children's, 112 pages

Tomboy Jo March would rather die than spend time with wealthy, proper Aunt March.  She'd much rather race against the boys at school or star in all the swashbuckling plays she writes.  But when Aunt March offers to adopt one of the March sisters to help ease the family money problems, Jo decides to make the ultimate sacrifice.  She'll tear herself away from her sisters and parents — the family she dearly loves — if it means they'll have a better life.   She's determined to become the perfect lady.  Now Jo has to convince her family that she's sincere about her decision by taking on a role that may be too difficult to act.

Beth's Story: Portraits of Little Women ~ by Susan Beth Pfeffer, 1997, children's, 112 pages

Painfully shy Beth March is excited to be visiting New York City with her parents.  The theater, opera, symphony, museums — Beth loves every minute of her adventure.  She even meets Abraham Lincoln, and has the courage to tell him that women deserve the right to vote.

But once she's back home in Massachusetts, none of Beth's schoolmates believe that she really spoke to Mr.  Lincoln or that she even met him.  They know Beth is shy — too shy to speak to a man running for President of the United States.  Even Beth's younger sister, Amy, thinks she's lying.  Now Beth wishes she'd never been to New York — until she's surprised by an unexpected visitor.

Amy's Story: Portraits of Little Women ~ by Susan Beth Pfeffer, 1997, children's, 112 pages

Beautiful Amy March, the youngest March sister, is a talented artist.  Everyone praises her lifelike portraits.  The one person she can't draw is herself.  So when a photographer's studio opens in town, Amy is thrilled.  Now her pretty blond curls and piercing blue eyes can be captured forever in a photograph.

A photograph costs quite a bit of money — more than she has, and more than her parents can give her.  Amy thinks of a clever way to come up with the money, and soon she has enough.  But she decides to spend her savings on a gift for her father — a gift that will warm his heart when he's far away from home and that ultimately gives Amy an unexpected gift in return.

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

No, this isn't Clawdia

Book Blogger Hop ~ favorite reading nook

Book Blogger Hop asks a question each week.  Here's the one for Dec. 9-15, 2022:

"Do you have a favorite reading nook?"

No, not really.  I usually read in one of two places:  in my easy chair or in bed.  But I also read while I'm having lunch at home or in the Circle@Crown Café here at my retirement center — if I'm not talking to friends.  I read in a doctor's waiting room or while sitting in a shady spot outdoors in the summer.  In other words, I read here, there, and everywhere.

(*Note:  I like that we can plan ahead by reading the upcoming questions HERE.)

Beginning ~ with hand-printed pages

Beginning

Yes, that's the first page.  I almost quit reading when pages 2 and 3 and 4 continued like this, but it didn't go on forever.  It switches to regular print on page 23, or at least the print I chose for my Kindle, the print that can be changed and/or enlarged.  Okay, I decided to keep reading.

Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah ~ by Richard Bach, 1977, philosophy/metaphysics, 127 pages

In the cloud-washed airspace between the cornfields of Illinois and blue infinity, a man puts his faith in the propeller of his biplane.  For disillusioned writer and itinerant barnstormer Richard Bach, belief is as real as a full tank of gas and sparks firing in the cylinders — until he meets Donald Shimoda — a former mechanic and self-described messiah who can make wrenches fly and Richard's imagination soar.

Illusions (which I wrote about on TWOsday) is the follow-up to Bach's bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which I first read in the 1970s and then again in 2014 (click on the title to read about that book).  In this book, Bach takes to the air to discover the ageless truths that give our souls wings:  that people don't need airplanes to soar, that even the darkest clouds have meaning once we lift ourselves above them, and that messiahs can be found in the unlikeliest places — like hay fields, one-traffic-light midwestern towns, and (most of all) deep within ourselves.

Gilion at Rose City Reader hosts

Book Beginnings on Fridays.

Finding my strengths

StrengthsFinder 2.0 ~ by Tom Rath, 2007, self-help, 183 pages, 10/10

Do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day?  Chances are, you don't.  All too often, our natural talents go untapped.  From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to fixing our shortcomings than to developing our strengths.  To help people uncover their talents, Gallup introduced the first version of its online assessment, StrengthsFinder, in 2001.  That ignited a global conversation and helped millions to discover their top five talents.  In its 2007 national bestseller, StrengthsFinder 2.0, Gallup unveiled the new and improved version of its popular assessment, with 34 themes.  You can read this book in one sitting, but you may use it as a reference far longer.

That information is from online.  I'm fascinated by the ideas, like this one from page 25:

"One of you may learn from reading several books each month, while someone else learns primarily from doing, and yet another learns from an insatiable curiosity and Googles everything."

Check, check, and check.  Hmm, I learn in all these ways.  Probably, though, it's my curiosity that keeps me learning new things, even in my 80's.  When we went into lockdown in March of 2020, I taught myself how to Zoom.  I figured out how to use my new iPhone by googling the information, since I couldn't sit down beside someone to show me how to do the various things on an iPhone.

Here's "me" according to this book.  My five strengths (with snippets) are:

1.  Communication (pp. 65-68)

"You will always do well in roles that require you to capture people's attention.  Think about a career in teaching, sales, marketing, ministry, or the media.  Your Communication talents are likely to flourish in these areas" (p. 66).  That's good to know, since I used to teach communication skills and I'm a retired minister and I'm a published writer (see the next snippet).

"If you enjoy writing, consider publishing your work" (p. 68).  I've "been there, done that," as they say.  My writing has been published locally, nationally, and internationally.  I wrote book reviews for the local newspaper, sold my first article to a national magazine, and people all over the world now read my blog (look at the visitor map at the bottom of this page that showed this on Tuesday).

2.  Connectedness (pp. 73-76)

Chuck M. was quoted as saying, "I have a big interest in learning about all different religions.  I am reading a book right now that talks about Judaism versus Christianity versus the religion of the Canaanites, Buddhism, Greek mythology — it's really interesting how all of these tie together in some way" (p. 74).  And I (Bonnie) taught "Religions of the World" at Chattanooga State Community College for about a decade.

"Explore specific ways to expand your sense of connection, such as starting a book club..." (p. 74).  I've started more than one book club.  When Donna and I had a bookstore, we had a book club to get people into the store.  I'm still friends with some of those who attended.  When I moved to St. Louis, I started a book club here, where I live.

"Your philosophy of life compels you to move beyond your own self-interests and the interests of your immediate constituency and sphere of influence.  As such, you see the broader implications for your community and the world.  Explore ways to communicate these insights to others" (p. 75).  I have done this in the book clubs by choosing subjects to read about and discuss in our meetings.

3.  Empathy (pp. 97-100)

"You can sense the emotions of those around you.  You can feel what they are feeling as though their feelings are your own.  Intuitively, you are able to see the world through their eyes and share their perspective.  You do not necessarily agree with each person's perspective" (p. 97).  True; the time I got the most vivid feeling was when one woman's absolute loathing for me was almost rolling off of her.  Sadly, she was a neighbor.  I have no idea why she felt that way, since I liked her.

4.  Includer (pp. 117-120)

"You want to include people and make them feel part of the group. ... You want to expand the group so that as many people as possible can benefit from its support" (p. 117).  Yes, the more the merrier, I say.

5.  Intellection (pp. 129-132)

"You are the kind of person who enjoys your time alone because it is your time for musing and reflection.  You are introspective.  In a sense you are your own best companion, as you post yourself questions and try out answers on yourself to see how they sound" (p. 129).  Yes, the more the merrier, as I said above, but I definitely need "me time" to process things.

"Consider beginning or continuing your studies in philosophy, literature, or psychology.  You will always enjoy subjects that stimulate your thinking" (p. 130).  I had a double major for my bachelor's degree:  (1) in philosophy and religion and (2) in English language and literature.  It sounds like I hit all the right subjects, doesn't it?

"Engaging people in intellectual and philosophical debate is one way that you make sense of things" (p. 131).  As I said above, this is what I like to do in book clubs.

"Take time to write.  Writing might be the best way for you to crystallize and integrate your thoughts" (p. 131).  Uh, I think I've mentioned writing enough already.

Wednesday Word ~ placeholder (and a book)

Forgotten Bookmarks: A Bookseller's Collection of Odd Things Lost Between the Pages ~ by Michael Popek, 2011, scrapbook, 192 pages

It's happened to all of us:  we're reading a book, something interrupts us, and we grab the closest thing at hand to mark our spot.  It could be a train ticket, a letter, an advertisement, a photograph, or a four-leaf clover.  Eventually the book finds its way into the world — a library, a flea market, other people's bookshelves, or to a used bookstore.  But what becomes of those forgotten bookmarks?  What stories could they tell?

By day, Michael Popek works in his family's used bookstore.  By night, he's the voyeuristic force behind www.forgottenbookmarks.com, where he shares the weird objects he has found among the stacks at his store.

Forgotten Bookmarks is a scrapbook of Popek's most interesting finds.  Sure, there are actual bookmarks, but there are also pictures and ticket stubs, old recipes and notes, valentines, unsent letters, four-leaf clovers, and various sordid, heartbreaking, and bizarre keepsakes.  Together this collection of lost treasures offers a glimpse into other readers' lives that they never intended for us to see.

Word of the Day

place·​hold·​er ˈplās-ˌhōl-dər = something that occupies the position or place of another thing.  Example:  "I couldn't find my bookmark, so I put a coaster in my book as a placeholder."

The book arrived this morning (a day early), and I'm ready to start reading it.