Dancing with Daffodils

I love going to book club. Six years ago when we moved here I was struggling to make friends and find my place and then a group of us at my church decided to organize a book club. We were an eclectic group of women in different stages of life and with varying interests but I found a home among these readers. The very first book we read was I Capture the Castle. It was a different book that I probably wouldn’t have read otherwise, which is exactly what I love about book club. I enjoy being pushed out of my tendency to read historical fiction and even if I don’t like the book, I almost always learn something or at least can appreciate good literature that is of a different style, or even non fiction. It is intellectually stimulating to discuss themes and characters and how the story relates to us. It helps me prioritize something I already love to do but that can easily get pushed to the side. The good conversation, both about books and then about whatever is on our mind, is fulfi...

I recently went on a cruise and since the weather was terrible, my husband and I went to just about every event that was happening on ship that didn’t involve putting on sneakers, drinking alcohol or gambling. The highlight was a concert by Michael Klinkenberg, a violinist who is personable, interesting and immensely talented. At one point during the concert he said he would give a free CD to anyone who came up and played a song by memory on the piano. I play the piano and immediately my husband told me I should go up. I was honestly motivated by the free CD but am not good at performing without practicing so I remained in my seat. The first girl up was young and played a one-handed song of three repeating notes but Michael joined in on his violin and made it a duet, so it sounded amazing. Then an older woman went up and played another one-handed song. My confidence began growing. I can play better than that, I thought and what an opportunity to play a duet with such a talented ...