Yesterday I went to my holiday book club luncheon. Most of us are getting up there in years but we're still reading good, diverse books that stretch us. I've read some amazing books over the years - not because I chose them - but because they were required book club reading.
Yesterday was a treat because we had the author of the book we'd just read, who just so happens to live in Orlando, come have lunch with us and tell us a bit about herself. By the way, every person in book club has an amazingly interesting story so what our author had to say wasn't as unique as you would think.
Marjorie Radcliffe spoke to us about her book "Teacher on the High Wire." She was a doctor's wife with two children. When the kids went off to collage she divorced the doctor. She needed a job. She was 48 years old. She was certified in English, math, French and Spanish so she tried teaching school. That didn't work so she signed up to be a tutor in the entertainment world! What a life that led to. After a while she was assigned to the Ringling Circus. Or, as she said, "They sold me to the circus." So the book is about the five years of Marjorie's adventures while traveling with the circus. I had no idea what that life was like. It's different. For instance most of the permanent circus folks lived on the train along with the animals, etc., including 21 elephants. Ringing had their own - mile long - train. They definitely had their own culture. Marjorie tells lots of sorted tails.
Before Marjorie spoke a book club member had an announcement. Jill, who has magenta hair and is crazy smart invited us to come the the Sak Comedy Club next week when she'll be doing "stand up."
Old ladies who read books are truly an interesting bunch.
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