"The Shadow Girls" Henning Mankell

"Perhaps I should be more concerned about these girls and what they have told me.  But isn't what they have told me also something that is as much about me?"

Mr. Mankell is currently one of my favorite authors, however I didn't really like this book.  I almost put it down, but was hoping to discover something that ended up not being there.

"The Likeness" Tana French

"Our entire society's based on discontent: people wanting more and more and more, being constantly dissatisfied with their homes, their bodies, their decor, their clothes, everything.  Taking it for granted that that's the whole point of life, never to be satisfied.  If you're perfectly happy with what you've got- specially if what you've got isn't even all that spectacular- then you're dangerous.  You're breaking all the rules, you're undermining the sacred economy, you're challenging every assumption that society's build on."

Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore, Robin Sloan

"He paused, then added, 'Some of them are working very hard indeed.'  'What are they doing?'  'My boy!' he said, eyebrows raised.  As if nothing could be more obvious:  'They are reading."

"Your life must be an open city, with all sorts of ways to wander."

The Blood Split, Asa Larsson

"It's remarkable.  The whole summer has been a list of things to do.  One by one she's ticked them off.  Tears weren't on the list.  They put themselves there.  She didn't want them.  She's afraid of them.  Afraid of drowning in them.

And when they came.  At first they were horrible, and an unbearable torment, darkness.  But then.  Then the tears became a refuge.  A place to rest.  A waiting room before the next thing on the list.  Then a part of her suddenly wanted to stay there among the tears.  Put off the other thing which is going to happen.  And then the tears leave her.  Say:  that's it, then.  And just stop."

Today's Going Be a New Day

The boy met the President of the United States today, as in had a personal reception with the President of the United States. It was amazing and we so thankful.  The President was everything you might hope a leader might be and Ethan was cute & funny. We even had our photo taken by the great Pete Souza. (In this age, What's more important: The history makers or those who capture them?) 

In the midst of so much excitement and incredible opportunity, so many other emotions surfaced. It is difficult to reconcile this opportunity with the loss of the boy's dad. One would not have happened without the other. 

Today I'm proud of my incredible and wonderful boy, yet sad for sweet, young baby.

Rainy Weekend

While some complain about a rain filled weekend, we find adventures, warm fires, stories, comfort food, books, paints, and a new-to-us typewriter. 

Never allow a little rain to dampen your day.

(Now if I could just figure out why the preview looks so cute, and the published post looks crazy!  Time to learn HTML perhaps!)

Be

In the past year, I have stopped attending church (regularly), stopped keeping a journal, and most of the time stopped believing in maintenance of a close relationship with the Divine.   And, I couldn't be happier.

Most days, I continue to believe in the reality of God, but sometimes, I "try on" not believing.  On those days, I feel an ache in my heart.  Yet, something has shifted in my fundamental belief system.  On NPR today, they interviewed a former pastor turned atheist (so interesting!).  Listening I realized I'm existing in the both/and place, and I feel free in this place.

So, I will just be, ride my bike, make granola, and dream of gardens.