DAY 29

Day 29 (Monday, April 13): BOOK CLUB

Just as Maryland was planning to Shelter-in-Place, my book club was supposed to meet to discuss “Disappearing Earth.” We decided to post-pone our meeting, thinking we might be able to meet in a few weeks. When it quickly became clear that would not happen, we decided to meet online.

Like many others, I have been attending “virtual happy hours.” I also had a two-hour virtual coffee one morning last week with my Survival Moms Group (because our nights were filled with other “meetings.”) So I was excited to “see” my book club friends and to - gasp - discuss the book.

About seven years ago I was invited to join a newly forming book club. I had never been in a book club before, and many of these moms I did not know. But we have a determined leader who keeps us on track, sends out recaps and reminders, keeps us organized, and who is all-forgiving to those of us who only show up 2-3 times a year and maybe haven’t read the book. But we always talk about the book, which I love. This isn’t a book club to get out of the house, drink wine, and hangout with girlfriends (not that there’s anything wrong with that!) We discuss the book, the author, the writing, and the context in which the book was written.

Most of the books we choose, I would never pick up to read on my own. And about 85% of them, I am REALLY glad I read them. What a gift.

During this time at home, I have found myself searching for outlets. Books have been one of them. I listen to them more than I actually READ them: during walks, when I’m cleaning, and when I go to bed. Since my boys now have AirPods, I inherited a pair of noise-cancelling Beats. My son hooked them up to my phone, and I can disappear into the world of my book. This month, I disappeared to Kamchatka (which, for those of you playing RISK, is on the Pacific side of Russia).

Since many of us do not have time to sit and read, consider listening to books and stories. Audible.com is now streaming children’s, teen’s, and select classic books for free. Check it out!