BEWARE! BOOK CLUBS MAY BE ADDICTIVE

                                               BEWARE! BOOK CLUBS MAY BE ADDICTIVE

I was hoping my seat mate on the plane was not a talker. My hopes were for naught.
“I see you are a reader.” (She had spied the paperback novel I was retrieving from my purse.)
“Well, when I travel I try to read.” (Maybe she would take the hint.).
“Do you belong to a book club?” (She wasn’t going to give up.)
“No. I’ve never given it a thought. Besides I don’t have time. I’m very busy with my work and family.”
“That’s too bad. I find book clubs to be relaxing, as well as stimulating. I wouldn’t give up my two for anything.              
“Two book clubs? (I carefully placed my book behind the netting in front of “The Airline Magazine.” I knew this would not be a relaxing trip.
“Yes, one I started just to have a group of women to gather once a month and talk about things other than church fund raisers and family problems. Those things are important but I wanted something more
She was beginning to make sense. I gave her my undivided attention.
“Tell me the best thing about book clubs.”
“Well, for one, I have two families. No, maybe I should say we make a choice to be close friends. We are there for one another in the good times and the bad. So, yes, we are like family.
“Why do you think you become so close?”
“I’ve given that a lot of thought and the best reason I can find is that we talk about emotional and physical problems in the books we read. Before you realize it you are talking about similar happenings in your own life. This seems to be the glue that bonds us. Don’t misunderstand, Everything is not serious. We laugh a lot.”
“You’re probably right. Sharing one’s feelings can do that. Are most of your members long time members?
“Most of them. We have lost two to death. They are missed greatly.”
“Do you have a list of rules?”
(I notice a smile.) “No, only one. It is simple--there must not be any talk of church activities during the book discussion…You see all of the members except your truly belong to the same church. If they begin, I ring a bell!”
“Just one rule? You’re not that strict. Are you required to read the book?

“Everyone in the group usually reads the book. If something prevents them from finishing it, they finish it later. They are faithful readers.
Just then the voice of the pilot comes on and says that we will be landing shortly.
The book club lady turns to me and says, “I hope I haven’t kept you from something important. I know I talk a lot, especially about my book clubs.”)
“That’s perfectly okay. I cannot wait to find a book club to join."

Dear Queen Bees,

I wrote this little story to show you how much I enjoy being the leader of our club. We always have a great time, even if we don’t care that much about the book. We have so many good ones that they make up for the lesser ones.

Wishing everyone a great year, filled with good health, good friends and good reading.

Fondly,
Darlene