Days of Thinking

One night this week, I heard the author Anne Lamott read and talk. My friend C was nice enough to invite me and I was really looking forward to hearing what Ms. Lamott would have to say, as I hold her writing abilities in serious awe. Her sense of humor was all I had hoped and expected, though I realized later that her delivery deserved more credit than the jokes themselves for the laughter she won--at least, my laughter.

Here are a few of the things I jotted down:

• "My friend once told me this [a "loved and chosen" exercise she did while teaching a Sunday School class] is a good exercise because everyone is loved and chosen . . . even Dick Cheney." The sanctuary was silent for a moment as the Dallas crowd furtively wondered if it was okay to laugh. And then, they did.
• "On the stem [of a rose tattoo she recently got] I put scripture from the third season of West Wing . . . 'Trust the captain, trust the crew.'"
• Taking ballroom dancing classes with her boyfriend "was like putting Miracle Grow on our character flaws."

Afterward, standing in line so she could sign my copy of "Bird by Bird" (my favorite of her many books that I own), I tried in vain to think of something memorable to say, like my taunting of Salman Rushdie about how Yankee fans (like him) do not know true suffering. I wanted to say something that would make her see more in me than a fat woman who goes to hear other people read from books they have written. But I did not succeed, and instead just told her I enjoyed her talk.

Then, on Saturday afternoon, I finally saw the movie Juno. I had heard it was really funny, but it was so bittersweet, too, and afterward, I could not stop crying.

After this, I needed to think of escape. I bought Rick Steves' latest books about London and Ireland, as well as "Honeymoon with My Brother" by Franz Wisner, as well as some beautiful opera and classical music.

Also, there are travel plans to look forward to in 2008:

• March: two Cubs spring training games
• April: attend three of the Cubs' games on the first weekend of the season, with my Mom and then with my friend G (which I believe will be the first time at Wrigley for each of them)
  
• April: attend Bruce Springsteen concerts in Dallas and Houston with my friends J and B
• June: potentially attend the ACLU membership conference and an American Constitution Society conference in D.C., and visit friends in VA
• August: take my friend T to Chicago for her first Wrigley Field visit
• September: something for my birthday, to be determined
  
• December: something for Christmas, to be determined.