Archive for December, 2009

Seven days . . .

Posted in Books, Family History, Kindle, Photos & Videos on December 29th, 2009 by Janet – 2 Comments

Seven days . . . what a difference it makes:

Seven Days

I have had a wonderful holiday — how about you? There were a few days during all the pre-holiday madness that I thought I was getting sick, but I’m grateful I didn’t. It was just my body telling me to slow down and rest. So I did — and it helped.

I’ve been reading a lot — and re-reading some old favorites. If you have kids in your life, I can’t recommend this book enough. I first read it when Erica was two years old and it helped guide me in choosing read aloud picture books. Eighteen years later, those books are timeless and still richly entertaining and satisfying for the boys. I’ve not been reading aloud as much as I should, but that’s going to change in 2010. I also ordered The Book Whisperer, by Donalyn Miller and can’t wait to read it. I’ve gotten so much out of her blog and it’s helped me to source good books for my oldest son.

And just for me, the biggest treat was reading Amy Tan’s The Opposite of Fate: Memories of a Writing Life. She writes a lot about her mom and the grandmother she never knew except through stories and portraits. Reading it was personal, poignant and real. Like Amy, I never knew my grandmother, but her presence is felt through what my mom shares about her own life and the choice she made to marry an American and leave Japan — and her mother. I’ve often wondered about my grandmother’s perspective and wished I could have known her. In her book, Amy acknowledges that there’s a level of “knowing” her grandmother that’s experienced in dreams and intuition and she channels that in her writing. There are stories that need to be told and perhaps the granddaughter is the one to finally tell them. I’m hopeful.

Grandmother

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Beginnings

Posted in Books on December 21st, 2009 by Janet – 3 Comments

Beginning :: Paperwhites

I’m SO over 2009 and can’t wait for 2010. But the best thing about 2009? The best thing I did this year was make time for reading again. My “to-read” list is getting longer every day. And I’m looking ahead a lot more than usual as the year closes. I’m hopeful. Focused. Determined. And ready to be more in control. Less buffeted.

Ambition or adaptability? Which is more important? I’ll try to share my own answer to that in 2010.