My fabulous book club

My book club met today. We have a tradition that has crept up over the years of bringing back bookmarks from trips we've been on. It doesn't happen every month. Today a record 5 sets of bookmarks appeared along with all the stories!! I have not seen most of these wonderful women for 2 months and we always do a bit of "catch up" with everyone's life each month before we talk about the book. Today was extraordinary I thought. 7 out of 10 of us were present. Of those not present, one is in Africa, one is in Mexico and one is on jury duty. That leaves seven:
One had just been on a elder hostel retreat about women, joy, wine, and laughter. Lots of positive vibes.
One just learned today that the UW will indeed sponsor a trip to Cuba where she's been wanting to go (The state department needs to give permission still...)
One had just returned from new Mexico with stories of the pueblos and Georgia O'Keefe. (and bookmarks for all)
One had just returned form France with bookmarks from Lyon. (that look Russian to me!)
One had also just returned from New Mexico where she visited the 1977 land artwork "the lightning field" by Walter de Maria, a NY artist who made this wild obscure incredible thing out in nowhere. here's pretty good description. Read if you know nothing about this (as I didn't! this friend is a docent at a cutting edge art gallery in town at the UW and travels the US seeking these works. Bookmarks of the NM wildlife.
One had just returned from Australia where she became very interested and knowledgable about the Aborigines and their artwork. Art bookmarks.
And my contribution was Africa of course.. and animal bookmarks.

Whew, by the time we got through with this incredible unusual array of adventures, we still had time to talk about the book, The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth. :-) Had to bone up on some Austrian-Hungarian Empire history and then I'm sure we missed much of the references to the different peoples in this 1932 novel set in 1859-1918 describing the demise of an empire through 3 generations of a fictional military family. Surprisingly readable (translated from German) and I think brilliant, almost like a fairy tale. I'd recommend it for any book club.

And if that wasn't enough stimulation, H and I had a dinner date in the neighborhood with 2 good friends where there is always interesting conversation!
Now I have to go be quiet.....
(sorry this is so long. didn't want to miss anyone...)