We gathered at Judy's for our September meeting to discuss This Road I Ride by Juliana Buhring. Judy decorated her home with all kinds of bicycling memorabilia and provided food that we often consume on our bicycle tours, along with post-tour treats. Annie, Christe, Ellen, Jo, Judy, Julie, Liz, and Nanc attended. Annie told us about the exciting news that Emma is heading off to Slovenia on the 20th. There was also lots of bicycling talk both related to and unrelated to the book.
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| Water view from the Lee's |
It was lovely to be with the group last night. Thank you, Judy, for your gracious hospitality, marvelous food and fun bicycle décor. And thank you to everyone for sharing your news, your experiences, and your thoughts about the book.
Julie, although I don’t recall that you specifically shared this quote, you definitely shared the essence of having had it speak to you as you consider Burma.
“Many people postpone making their dreams a reality to wait for the perfect time. There’s no such thing. The perfect time is right now.” ~ Juliana Buhring
It is such a good reminder for me who has often tended to go through life saying “if... then; when... then ...”
I’d also vote for:
“Hendri called it 'living the best day ever.' It was the guiding philosophy by which he lived his life. Yesterday is always in the past; it no longer exists. Tomorrow has not yet happened, so it does not exist either. Today is the only day we will ever live, and that makes it the best day ever. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can stop holding on so tightly to what we think we have, stop hoarding in preparation for an elusive future, and start going about the business of living in the present. Because all that exists is now. This moment. This day." ~ Juliana Buhring
~ Liz Webster
After this book, I appreciate that some people feel more alive when pushing to extreme physical limits, and that physical work has great rewards. I recognize that we enjoy different levels of challenge, and for various purposes. Juliana included a quote by Joseph Campbell,
"Find a place inside where there is joy, and the joy will burn out the pain."
She also mused that we may be the creator of our own worlds, our thoughts, our emotions. Saying that none of this is real, and perhaps it's just a ride. So many variations on the theme of suffering, taking actions, and human existence.
I'm glad I experienced some of her ride and discoveries as she told her story.
~ Ellen Bowes
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| Scrabble book club welcome, Jo and Judy bicycling at the top of Trout Run Rd, bicycle tour snacks, and bicycle macaroni. |
Next Book: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Location: Christe's
Date: Thursday, October 13, 2016
Time: 6:30pm
Upcoming meetings:
November 10, 2016 Watch The Boys of '36 at Nanc's
December Holiday gathering at Julie's (date TBA)
November 10, 2016 Watch The Boys of '36 at Nanc's
December Holiday gathering at Julie's (date TBA)
January 12, 2017 About Grace by Anthony Doerr at TBA
February 9, 2017 Between the World and Me by Ta-nehisi Coates at TBA
Books we've read so far:
February 9, 2017 Between the World and Me by Ta-nehisi Coates at TBA
Books we've read so far:
January 2014 - Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott
February 2014 - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
March 2014 - Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
April 2014 - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie
May 2014 - The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
June 2014 - Breaking Free by Marilyn Sewell
July 2014 - The Orphan Train by Kristina Baker Kline
August 2014 - The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
September 2014 - Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
October 2014 - The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
November 2014 - The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
December 2014 - No book. Holiday gathering.
January 2015 - No book. Watched The Book Thief
February 2015 - The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
March 2015 - Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne
April 2015 - The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin
May 2015 - The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
June 2015 - The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
July 2015 - Still Alice by Lisa Genova
August 2015 - The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
September 2015 - Ruby by Cynthia Bond
October 2015 - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
November 2015 - No book. Watched To Kill a Mockingbird
December 2015 - No book. Holiday gathering.
January 2016 - All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
February 2016 - Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
March 2016 - Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
April 2016 - Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie
May 2016 - Jewelweed by David Rhodes
June 2016 - One Woman's River by Ellen Kolbo McDonah
July 2016 - Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
August 2016 - Deep Water Passage by Ann Linnea
September 2016 - This Road I Ride by Juliana Buhring
