#9 Join a Book Club

Last night was our first book club meeting and hopefully there will be many more.

A couple of months ago Kirstin had this great idea to start a book club, which just so happened to be on my life list so of course I said YES. I asked Meg and Cherie to join too.This time only Meg came, but Cherie will be there next time, right Cher?

We met at Kirstin’s and she’d prepared a delicious spread.

Our first book was The Help by Kathryn Stockett, which I loved and can’t wait to see the movie in August. If you haven’t read it I highly recommend it, but don’t watch the movie trailer because it gives too much away.

It was so fun to meet new people and have such a meaningful conversation with intelligent women

“Wasn’t that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I’d thought.” - Kathryn Stockett, The Help

#43 Visit the Adler Planetarium

Yesterday, Meg, Dave, and I went to the planetarium. I met Meg and Dave at their place and we walked from there. Unfortunately, it was like a monsoon by the lake and when we got to the Adler we were freezing and soaking wet. But the fun that ensued was well worth it. 

We wandered around the exhibits and learned about science.

With a Genuine Moon Rock

Too Close to the Sun

So, when you buy admission to the museum you also get into two “sky shows.” Apparently we did not choose wisely because “3D Vision” and “Night Sky Live” left a little to be desired. Meg and I did look pretty good in our 3D glasses over regular glasses though.

After the shows Meg wanted to go in the “sphere.” There was no explanation to what this “sphere” was and what we would see when we got in it, but Meg had to go in the “sphere.” Luckily, the line was short, but I told Meg she only had “one sphere” and if we didn’t get on the next one there would be “no sphere.” Basically we said “sphere” a lot.

Turns out the Atwood Sphere is Chicago's earliest planetarium and there are holes poked in it to look like the constellations when the light shines through. I had higher expectations after such a build-up, but it was probably the coolest thing we did.

Check another one off my list.

“To go places and do things that have never been done before - that’s what living is all about.”- Michael Collins, flew on Gemini 10 and Apollo 11

#10 Go to a Book Signing

On Saturday I checked another item off my life list.

Meg, Zach, and I went to a reading by my favorite poet, Nikki Giovanni, at the downtown library. She spoke for about an hour and then signed her books. She was interesting, funny, and smart. She talked about art, politics, race, history, family, and friendships. Intermittently she read about five poems, some new, some old. She was perfect and delightful. 

Meg had to leave right after (before she left I asked, “don’t you want to see me make a fool out of myself in front of my poetic idol?”), so I decided to get in line by myself to meet her. I figured I might never have this opportunity again and it would be an ideal way to check something off my list.

As I got closer and closer I got so nervous. My heart started beating out of my chest and I felt like if I opened my mouth to talk to her I would cry. I don’t know why I reacted that way, maybe just because her poetry has meant so much to me. When it was my turn she commented on my very old edition of her book My House and signed it. I got a picture with her and before I left I said, “thank you for the inspiration” and it came out completely laughable. Oh well, I am glad I said it, because I meant it.

My signed book. I love how she wrote “For Kerry…” instead of “To Kerry,” because one of my favorite poems by her is called “A Poem For Carol (May She Always Wear Red Ribbons)”

i shall save a special poem
for you to say
you always made me smile
and even though I cried sometimes
you said I will never let you
down

- “You Are There,” Nikki Giovanni