Book Endings and other random thoughts

Got home from work last night after putting in twelve hours, and though I should have gone straight to bed, I chose instead to read the last chapter of The Poisonwood Bible.  I've been reading this for the entire summer it seems, wading through the endless litany of disasters in the Congo to come out, hopefully, with a fairy tale ending.  Which it did not have.  But it was satisfying, nonetheless, and the writing was exceptional.  And I learned three new words in the last few chapters that I don't believe I've ever even seen before, let alone understood the meaning of:   vervet, defenestration, and anchorite.  That's three down, 57 to go before I turn 60.

There I go again, digressing.  Back to the subject at hand:  Would I recommend the book, this 500+ page anthology written in the voice of five females in a family led by one very passionate father who gave up everything he had for his Baptist ministry mission?   Yes.  I agree with Oprah.  It is one that could easily grace your bookshelf and add new perceptions to your life.   It is not fluff.  It is not always easy to read, but there is a myriad of experiences and could keep a discussion group going for a week with topics to dissect.  Having said that, however, I feel like I need a good fluff book now to reward myself for having read this one.

And as I closed the last page, I couldn't help wistfully wishing the women had known my father, had come to understand that a man can be passionate about his religion and still be kind and understanding, that a man can be Godlike and Christlike in every true sense of the word.


Now, back to the other random thoughts.  I'll post more on this as the time comes, but my sweet friend Leslie just turned 40.  In anticipation of this event in her life, a year ago she set 40 goals she wanted to accomplish before she hit that landmark age.  It's been fun to share some of those goals with her, and great fun to hear about her accomplishments.  She didn't quite make them all but she figures she's still got a year to complete them while she's 40.

So I'm a copycat.  In TWO years I will be turning 60.  So.... 60 goals (like finding 60 new words in books I am reading - and walking 600 miles and a lot of other things, some tied to the number 6, most not).  I know I'm cheating, because I'm starting a little early, but with 60 goals, I've got to get a head start!  So here's to turning 60!  May I embrace it with joy and excitement.

In two years.  Not today.