Berly has a few books to read...#8

My garden continues to thrive and is not only a much needed zen place for me -- as you can see, there is a book on the chair -- but it is also somewhere to have people come and safely social-distance visit.

As a country, we just celebrated the Fourth of July, our nation's independence day, hence the American flag in the foreground. I continue to feel lucky to live here, but I know that is not true for everyone. I hope we learn and grow from everything that is happening here. We really need to be inclusive, loving and kind, to treat people as individuals, deserving of our trust, attention and respect. I want to continue to be proud of my country, but we have work to do. I have work to do.

I read the book below very slowly. I wanted to sit with it, to let the ideas sink into me and stay with me, to change me for the better. Highly recommended!



From How To Be An Antiracist by Abram X Kendi

"Behavioral Antiracist: One who is making racial group behavior fictional and individual behavior real." (p. 92)

Reading Now
The Shadow King (B 428 pages) by Maaza Mengiste
In Search of Black History (🎧) by Bonnie Greer
Moranthology (🎧) by Kaitlin Moran

And Later...
August--Dark Hollow by John Connolly with luvamystery
The Bluest Eye (B 206 pages) by Toni Morrison

Read in August ??? pages / ??? 🎧 hours
Totals So Far ??? pages / ??? hrs 🎧
62. The Christmas Hirelings ( 🎧 4 hrs) by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
61. Hamnet ((🎧 12.5 hours) by Maggie O'Farrell
❤️ How to be an Antiracist (K 284 pages) by Ibram X Kendi
59. White Out (K 361 pages) by Danielle Girard
58. Trust No One (K ??? pages) by Debra Webb
57. One Thousand White Women (K 324 pages) by Jim Fergus
56. The House at Sea's End (K 384 pages) by Elly Griffith
55. Tonight You're Dead (K 411 pages) by Viveca Sten

Read in July 1,264 pages / 15 🎧 hours
Totals So Far 12,299 pages / 96.25 hrs 🎧
❤️ Agent 355 (🎧 3 hours) by Marie Benedect 4.0
53. Dementia Reimagined (B 310 pages) by Tia Powell, MD 3.0
52. The Shadow King (B 429 pages) by Maaza Mengiste 3.75
❤️ Brain Myths Exploded by (🎧 12 hours) by Indre Viskontas 4.0
50. The Highest Tide (B 257 pages) by Jim Lynch 4.5
49. The Unseen (B 268 pages) by Roy Jacobsen 3.75

Ratings
❤️ Favorite(s) of the month
Loved it! 5.0
Really Good 4.0
Good 3.0
Hmmmm 2.0
Don't Bother 1.0

Media
B = Printed Book
🎧 = Audio
K = Kindle
= Graphic Novel

Source
IR = Indiespensable Readers
LT = LibraryThing Early Reviewer
✔ = Off the shelf
L = Library
↩ = Reread
$ = bought this year
✗ = DNF

Read in June 748 pages / 10 🎧 hours
Totals So Far 11,035 pages / 81.25 hrs 🎧
48. Conviction (🎧 10 hours) by Denise Mina
47. Guiltless (K 370 pages) Sandham #3 by Viveca Sten 4.0
46. The Kitchen House (B 378 pages) by Kathleen Grissom 4.5

Read in May 2,237 pages / 18.5 🎧 hours
Totals So Far 10,287 pages / 71.25 hrs 🎧
45. Mostly Dead Things (B 358 pages) by Kristen Arnett (IR) 3.0
❤️ The Institute (L/K 577 pages) by Stephen King 4.0
43. Seriously...I'm Kidding (🎧 3 hours)by Ellen DeGeneres 3.5
42. You Can Thank Me Later (🎧 3 hours) by Kelly Harms 3.5
41. Matchmaking for Beginners (K 378 pages) by Maddie Dawson 3.0
❤️ Untamed (B 333 pages) by Glennon Doyle 4.0
39. Moranthology (🎧 8.5 hours/ read 2) by Caitlin Moran DNF
38. The Science of Sci-Fi (4 🎧 hours) by Erin Macdonald 3.75
37. The Janus Stone (B 327 pages) by Elly Griffiths 3.5
36. Actress (B 264 pages) by Anne Enright (IR) 4.0

Read in April 1,933 pages / 14.5 🎧 hours
Totals So Far 8,050/ 55.75 hrs 🎧
35. Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore (B 328 pages) by Matthew Sullivan 4.0
❤️ Still Life with Oysters and Lemon (B 70 pages) by Mark Doty 5.0
33. Tell Me Lies (🎧 6.0 hours) by JP Pomare 4.0
❤️ The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (K 142 pages)by Douglas Adams 4.5
31. Rules of Civility (B 324 pages) by Amor Towles 3.75 ✔
30. Closed Circles (K 465 pages) by Viveca Sten, #2 Sandhamn Mystery Group Read 3.0
29. Wind / Pinball (B 236 pages) by Haruki Murakami 3.75
28. Gulp (🎧 8.5 hours) by Mary Roach 3.5 ✔
27. Storm Cursed (L/K 368 pages) by Patricia Briggs 4.0

Read in March 1,510 pages / 5 🎧 hours
Totals So Far 6,117 pages / 41.25 hrs 🎧
26. Every Dead Thing (L/K 480 pages)by John Connolly (with luvamystery) 3.5
25. Phantom Limb: A Gripping Psychological Thriller (K 260 pages) by Lucinda Berry 4.0
24. Forever is the Worst Long Time (K 286 pages) by Camille Pagan 3.0
23. Tracks (B 226 pages) by Louise Erdrich 3.5 ✔
22. Caffeine: How Caffeine Created the Modern World (🎧 2 hours) by Michael Pollan 4.0
21. Malcolm and Me (🎧 1.5 hours by Ishmael Reed
❤️ Nothing to See Here (B 258 pages) by Kevin Wilson 4.5
❤️ Break Shot: My First 21 years ( 🎧 1.5 hours) by James Taylor 4.5

Read in February 3,069 pages / 11.5 🎧 hours
Totals So Far 4,607 pages / 36.25 hrs 🎧
18. Such A Fun Age (🎧 10 hours) by Kiley Reid 4.0
17. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill (B 332 pages) by Abbi Waxman 4.0
❤️ There, There (B 304 pages) by Tommy Orange, RL Bookclub 4.5
15. The Vine Witch (K 263 pages)by Luanne G. Smith 3.5
14. In an Instant (K 326 pages) by Suzanne Redfearn 4.0
13. The Yellow House (B 376 pages) by Sarah Broom, RL Bookclub, ✗
12. The Dark Horse: A Longmire Mystery (K 368 pages) by Craig Johnson 3.5
11. The Child Next Door (K 284 pages) by Shalini Boland 2.75
10. Still Waters: Sandhamn Murders, Book 1 (K 448 pages) by Viveca Sten (group read) 3.0
9. The Half-Life of Marie Curie by Lauren Gunderson (🎧 1.5 hours) 3.75

Read in January / 1,538 pages / 24.75 🎧 hours / Total
8. The Beautiful Brain Audible Original (🎧 1 of 3.75 hrs) by Hana Walker-Brown ✗
7. Where I Come From: Life Lessons From a Latino Chef by Aaron Sanchez (🎧 9 hours) 3.5
6. The Conference of the Birds by Ransom Riggs (K 400 pages) 4.0
5. A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs (L/K 492 pages) 4.0
4. When I Was You by Kent Minka (K 282 pages) 3.0
❤️ Liquid: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances That Flow Through Our Lives by Mark Miodownik (🎧 7.25 hrs) ✔ 4.5
2. Bone Clocks by David Mitchell (B 624 pages) with Triplets Beth and Ellen ✔ 3.75
1. Victorian Secrets by Nick Baker and John Wolf, read by Stephen Fry (🎧 7.5 hrs) ✔ 3.5

Books Freed = 0



Catalogued 37/52 shelves -- I really hope I finish this soon!

RL Book Club #1
DNF February - The Yellow House: A Memoir by Sarah Broom
✅ April - Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
✅ June - The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
✅ August - Less by
October - The Water Dancer by Ta-nehisi Coates
December - Choose books!!

RL Book Club #2
✅ January - Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield
✅ February - There, There by Tommy Orange
✅ March - Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
✅ April - Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
✅ May - Untamed by Glennon Doyle
✅ June - Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (reread)

Literary Arts 2019-2020
October 24, 2019 -- Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century by George Packer
November 14, 2019 -- ✅ Rules of Civility and ✅ A Gentleman in Moscow Amor Towles
January 15, 2020 -- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
February 20, 2020 -- ✅ The Library Book by Susan Orlean

Literary Arts 2020-2021
October 13, 2020 -- H is for Hawk by Helen McDonald
December 3, 2020 -- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
January 28, 2021 -- ✅ Circe by Madeline Miller
February 18, 2021 -- ✅ How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
April 20, 2021 -- An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo
May 5, 2021 -- ✅ The Nickel Boys and ✅ The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (rescheduled from 2020 due to COVID-19)

Powell's Indiespensable Readers Challenge

Hubby signed me up for this. Over the years I have received over 86 installments, but I haven't read all the books yet. Not even close! In an effort to catch up -- I want to read 12 this year. The complete list (such as it is) can be found here:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/301060#

Done
1. The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
2. There, There by Tommy Orange
3. Actress by Anne Enright
4. Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett
5. The Unseen by Roy Jacobson
6. The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste --reading now
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

In an effort to read off my shelves...

A book or author that has this letter in it...

January -- Break Shot: My First 21 years by James Taylor
February -- Victorian Secrets by Nick Baker and John Wolf, read by Stephen Fry
March -- Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
April -- Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
May-- Liquid: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances That Flow Through Our Lives by Mark Miodownik
June -- The Unseen by Roy Jacobsen
July
August
September -- Still Waters: Sandhamn Murders, Book 1 by Viveca Sten
October -- There, There by Tommy Orange
November
December

IN HONOR OF



And maybe one more challenge...Taken from the Advanced Pop Sugar Challenge
(for which I have little hope! LOL)

Written by an author in their 20s
With "20"or "twenty" in the title
With a character with vision impairment or enhancement (20/20 vision--get it?)
✅ Set in Japan, the host of the 2020 Winter Olympics -- Wind / Pinball by Haruki Murakami
Set in the 1920s
✅ By an author who has written more than 20 books -- The Institute by Stephen King
✅ With more than 20 letters in its title -- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Published in the 20th century
From a series with more than 20 books
✅ With a main character in their 20s -- Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

I can't resist buying new books!!

I seem to manage to read around 50% of my newbies, except last year where I (ahem) added a few more books to my collection than normal.

2017 47/85
2018 45/88
2019 45/128

Let's see how I do this year!!

2020 31/48 Read

1. The Likely Resolutions of Oliver Clock by Jane Riley *
✅ When I Was You by Minka Kent *
✅ Still Waters by Viveca Sten #1
✅ Closed Circles by Viveca Sten #2
✅ Guiltless by Viveca Sten #3
6-9. Viveca Sten Sandhamn Murders #4-8 (Katie and Laura's fault)
10. Instructions for a Funeral by David Means (gift from Mark) *
11. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Avaristo (gift from Mark) *
✅ The Yellow House by Sarah Broom
✅ Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan
✅ Nothing To See Here by Kevin Wilson
✅ The Conference of the Birds by Ransom Riggs
✅ A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs
17. I Am Yours: A Shared Memoir by Reema Zaman *
✅ In An Instant by Suzanne Redfearn *
19. Killing Comendatore by Haruki Murakami
✅ The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
21. Olive Again by Elizabeth Street
✅ The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith
✅ The Child Next Door by Shalini Oland
24. Little Gods by Meng Jen, INDIEspensable #84 *
✅ The Half-Life of Marie Curie by Lauren Gunderson *
✅ Phantom Limb by Lucinda Berry *
✅ Foerever is the Worst Long Time by Pagan Camille *
✅ Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
✅ Where I Come From: Life Lessons From a Latino Chef by Aaron Sanchez
✅ Every Dead Thing by John Connolly *
✅ Malcolm and Me by Ishmael Reed *
✅ Caffeine by Michael Pollan *
✅ Breakshot: mY First 21 Years by James Taylor *
✅ Gulp by May Roach
✅ Rules of Civility by Amore Towles
✅ Seriously...I am Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres *
✅ Still Life with Oysters and Lemon by Mark Doty
✅ Tell Me Lies by JP Pomade
✅ Untamed by Glennon Doyle
✅ Actress: A Novel by Anne Enright, INDIEspensable #85 *
41. The Voyage of the Morning Light by Marina Endicott INDIEspensable #85 *
42. Little Wonder: The Fabulous Story of Lottie Dod, the World's First Female Sports Superstar by Sasha Abramsky
43. How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi
44. The Bone Jar (Detective Lew Kirby Book 1) SW Kane *
45. White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo *
✅ The Unseen by Roy Jacobsen, INDIEspensable #86 *
47. Audrey McKee by Alex Puglsey, INDIEspensable #86 *
✅ The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch *

Favorites from 2019
Fiction
An Act of God (A) by David Javerbaum
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Charlie Davidson series Darynda Jones
The Fire This Time by Jesmyn Ward

Non-Fiction
These Truths: A History of the United States by Jilll Lepore
Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story (A) by Jacob Tobia
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei

Come on in!!

Hi Kim my dear, Happy new thread dear friend.

Happy new thread!

>12 Berly: Love the magic entrance!

Very nice garden, Kim.

Happy new thread!

Hello, John!! Thanks for being first. Can I interest you in some tea? : )



What is your favorite BTW?

>13 johnsimpson: >14 quondame: Hi Susan!! Hi Katie!! Happy Sunday.

>16 Berly:, I have just finished a pot of tea my dear and my favourite is Earl Grey and i have some Earl Grey ink, lol.

Happy new thread!

The garden is looking lovely Kim.

I'm reading Kendi's book too. I'll be recommending it for my RL reading group. It is very thought provoking.

Happy new one!

Kim, your garden does look quite restful!

Happy new thread, Kim. Enjoy your zen garden. I just caught up with all the health care issues on your previous thread and it sounds like you need a place of peace and relaxation like that.

Lovely moment of peace in the garden. A great escape!

Happy new thread, TwinK! I love your garden. And you don't have bugs! I see you've started The Shadow King already. I have to finish Bring Up the Bodies first. Then I'll be there with you.

Happy new thread, Kim. Lovely garden topper. I wish the heat and humidity here would break so I could sit in mine!

Happy new thread, Kimmers. xx

Kim, my friend, just skimmed through your last thread. I'm so glad Walt has finally fully recovered -- and I'm so sorry about your MIL. It's great that you were able to get her into a memory care place, and so hard not to be able to visit. 😢

I'm also still slowly reading How to Be an Antiracist. It is so good but I've gotten distracted by Hamnet and a mystery for late-night insomnia reading. And work is still, as a colleague described it for me, relentless.

Keep taking care, hang in there. ❤️

Happy New Thread, Kim! Love your garden.

>1 Berly: You got me with that topper. I said (to myself), Wait! Kim changed her garden. WTH? Then I said, Oh, it's a new thread, a new topper.

I've got my eye on that Kendi book, but he's got, I think, three other titles out. I want to use him as a wild card for this year's AAC. I have to be patient, because my kids and wife will be required to shower me with books on Thursday. I don't want to hear my wife needling me: "You couldn't wait." Then shower me with pejoratives (instead of books).

>18 johnsimpson: Earl Gray ink...of course you have some! LOL

>19 drneutron: Hi Doc!!

>20 Caroline_McElwee: Kendi is coming to Portland (or at least I hope he is) for Literary Arts later in the season, but I couldn't wait to buy the book at the event, so I have the Kindle version. I have lots and lots of passages highlighted so far--should be a great discussion book.

>21 figsfromthistle: I do hope this is a happier thread, so thanks for the good wishes!!

>22 thornton37814: I was sitting out there today and a hummingbird came up and fed from the red crocosmia in the middle of the garden, right in front of me!! Made my day. : )

>23 Familyhistorian: I love sitting out there, with my book or a glass of wine ( or both). There are so many birds chirping in the trees nearby and there are lots of bumblebees. Makes me happy. : ) And it is such a nice place to center after all the upheavals lately.

>24 richardderus: Yes! Now if I can just get back to reading some books again. June was abysmal....

>25 BLBera: I haven't actually started The Shadow King yet...probably tomorrow. : ) Have fun finishing up the one you're on. I have 40 pages left in mine.

>26 jessibud2: Humidity be gone!! I hope you get to sit outside soon.

>27 PaulCranswick: Thank you! Hope I get to be around a little more this month. : )

>28 EBT1002: Hi there stranger! It's hard to twins and so far apart. : )

This has been a tough year so far, for so many. I have high hopes for July. I need a break, especially since my sister is probably moving out here in a month, and she is staying here with me. I am excited to have her here in Portland with me, but the timing could not be more stressful!! Yikes.

Hope you are hanging in there at work. And with the knee.

I am reading How to be an Antiracist, but it's something that I think takes time to digest and take in and I also need lighter fare to balance out RL stress, so I am reading it slowly. Probably only a chapter or two a day. Very good read.

>29 ronincats: Thanks, Roni! : )

>30 weird_O: LOL. Same garden, just a month later. : )

Yes, you better wait! Books are much better than pejoratives! ; ) Is it a birthday coming up?

BTW--nice face! LOL

Happy New Thread, Kim.
>1 Berly: Your garden is a wonderful place and I hope this book will be available in german language soon.

Happy new thread, Kim!

From your previous thread: Sorry about your MIL, good you found a good place for her. Dementia is an awful disease.

>1 Berly: Your garden looks like the perfect place to relex.
>12 Berly: In theory this should be possible, in a picture is awesome :-)

Happy new thread, Kim, and I like the different view of your front garden.

>36 SirThomas: Hello, Thomas. Thanks for popping in and I am glad you like my garden. : ) I hope you get the translation of How to Be an Antiracist soon--it's an important book.

>37 FAMeulstee: Hi! The memory care unit is doing a great job of giving daily updates and photos to my FIL. I think he feels that he has made the right decision. I am trying to make sure to call him frequently and have him over for dinner, etc., so he doesn't fell horribly alone, even though I know he still does. Dementia sucks.

>38 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen. I tried to plant things that would have long bloom times or blossom at different times through the summer. So far, so good!

Hey TwinK - I think we're about in the same place in How to Be an Antiracist. I've been doing about a chapter a day.

Dementia does suck.

Next -- The Shadow King!!

Happy new thread, Kim! Your garden is beautiful and congratulations on doing so well with reading what you buy.

>40 BLBera: Yes, yes and yes!!!

>41 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba. I have been doing pretty well with me new purchases, haven't I? : D

That means I am not doing as well with my pre-owned books. ; )

What is a girl to do? Why, keep reading, of course!!

>42 Berly: I hear ya' sister!

Happy new thread, Kim! Your garden looks like the perfect place to unwind.

The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch 4.5

This book was such a sweet break from all the heavy topics surrounding me (Racism, Covid-19, parents with Dementia) and I loved it. Miles is a young boy who absolutely lives for his daily ocean shoreline discoveries. That and his crush on his next door neighbor. And his best friend, the elderly housebound woman. He is awkward and utterly brilliant and I loved the mix of wry humor, human connections, and the beauty of tidal marshes and its strange inhabitants. As Miles makes astonishing discovery after discovery, the local news station takes note and he soon becomes a celebrity, whether he wants to be or not. It didn't hurt that the book takes place in the state next door to me, Washington.

>44 lkernagh: Hi there! A glass of rosé also helped tonight. ; )

>32 Berly: Is this your photo? If so, that is impressive.

Happy New Thread, Kim. I think I have The Highest Tide on shelf. I have been meaning to read Lynch again. Sounds really good.

>47 msf59: Hiya, Mark! No, not my photo. I didn't even have my phone with me. You, however, have been taking great ones with your new phone. Mine is a relic at this point and my kids are on me to get a new one -- soon! LOL

I have not tried photographing birds with my cell but it works well with landscapes. That is a cool hummer photo, regardless who took it.

>49 msf59: I agree. I like your new topper. : )

Hi Kim. I read The Highest Tide many years ago and gave it to a friend. BLT (before LT)

Happy new thread, Kim, and love your garden! I, too, am reading How to Be an Antiracist, usually a chapter or two at a time, to let ideas sink in and not rush through just to accomplish another book finished. Looking forward to your thoughts on it.

>51 jessibud2:

Bacon Lettuce Tomato --or--

Before

BLT has a whole new meaning now!! LOL.

>52 bell7: That's exactly how I am reading How To Be An Antiracist. I don't want to rush it. There's a lot to ponder and take in. Some of the points seem obvious to me....

"Researchers have found a much stronger and clearer correlation between violent-crime levels and unemployment levels than between violent crime and race." (p.79)

Others are less so...

"Colorism is a collection of racist policies that cause inequities between Light people and Dark people, and these inequities are substantiated by racist ideas about Light and Dark people. Colorism...rationalizes inequities with racist ideas, claiming the inequities between Dark people and Light people are not due to racist policy but are based in what is wrong or right with each group of people. Colorist ideas are also assimilation ideas, encouraging assimilation into--or transformation into something close to--the White body." (p.110)

"But because inequities between the races overshadow inequities within the races, Dark people often fail to see colorism as they regularly experience it. Therefore, Dark people rarely protest policies that benefit Light people, a 'skin color paradox'..." (p. 110)

>53 Berly: My BLTs are usually BTs. I do add the L sometimes, but not all that often.

>35 Berly: Is it a birthday coming up?

Why yes, yes it is. One sometimes associated with Spirit. "That's the Spirit! Ta rah rah rah, rah rah rah, ta rah rah rah rah rah." Or som'im like tha.

Happy not so new thread Kim.
I thought the Shadow King was really compelling. I don't know how Powell's picks their books but you've read some lovely ones from them so far this year.

>54 Berly: I'm finding the same thing, and for the parts that are most unfamiliar to me I wish I were reading a physical book instead of an e-book, because then I could flip to the notes in the back and see what he was referring to and get more information.

Oddly enough, I think I *mostly* understood the parts on colorism because I did know about that - that even among Black people there can be a sort of hierarchy where light skin is "better", light people "prettier". So I thought what he was saying in your first example was that by saying "light people are better," we're perpetuating a racist idea wrapping "good" up with skin color rather than realizing there are policies in place that benefit light people over dark (for example, that natural Black hair is "unprofessional"). And at the same time, having this "colorist" approach is a variation on assimilation: not just culturally becoming more White, but physically.

Though I think sometimes he just has a style of writing I'm not used to so I have to reread sentences here and there. One of my biggest takeaways is still how much I have to learn.

I love the Zen/Social Distancing garden, your thoughts on the state of our country, AND your Hearts! Go, Kim! ❤️❤️❤️

((((Kim))))

>58 bell7: I may have to get at least the ebook. I'm listening to an Audible recording, and although he is very precise and sometimes remarkably slow in his delivery, sometimes I wish I had the added advantage of print. There's a lot to absorb and test against my own habits and behavior. so I'll probably get a print edition as well.

I have several Kendi books on the wish list; I'll have to spring for at least one of them pretty soon.

Okay, you got me with your review. I just downloaded the audio version of The Highest Tide. Am looking forward to it.

Thanks for nudging me to log my reading again.

>53 Berly: BLTs are my favourite sandwiches.

I put myself on the library hold list for How To Be an Antiracist. Many of the threads have write ups about the book, but your post was the one that got me with a BB. There are only 233 people ahead of me on the hold list but it looks like the Vancouver library will start allowing us to have our books on hold next week finally. I'm slowly reading my way through The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power, which is interesting but very Toronto centric.

Happy New Thread, Kim.

Nice comments up top. We've gotten a copy of How to Be an Antiracist. Debbi and I plan to each read a chapter at a time, and then discuss it. We've never tried that before, so we'll see.

Hi Kim,
I thought I would stop lurking and *wave* "hello" this trip through.
I'm seriously behind on even skimming the threads! :D

Boo hoo, my star fell off your thread :(
But, I have found you again, so rest easy :)

BLT! haha, life was so much less back then.

Just stopping by to say hi, Kim. I was interested in what you had to say about *Anti-racist*. It is on my list and I think I'll have to take it slowly as well.

re: Antiracist. I'm halfway through, according to my audio, in chapter 14. It's very clear but rich, and I will have to get the text as well.

I'm back to say I just finished The Ten Thousand Doors of January (Alix Harrow).
It's my best read so far this year. I borrowed it from Overdrive but I liked it so much, I'm going to look for the title on sale. As a physical book. High praise in my world!

Love the garden! Perfect outdoor haven. :)

I trust you are yours are avoiding downtown Portland, lest Drumpf's Secret Police sweep you up and make you disappear.

Hi Kim! Hope everything is going well with you.

I hope the quiet here is not more bad news with your MIL's health. May you and yours be as well as can be, and may the books you read be ones that bring you joy.

Hey there Miss Berly-boo, sending love and hugs and anxious well-wishes into the aethereal phlogiston around PDX.

Hi Kim, missing you around here but hope that means that you are enjoying the summer weather outdoors.

Hope you're well, TwinK

Hi, ((((((Kim))))). I'm missing you too - hope that you're not dealing with problems and that you'll be back to us soon!

>55 thornton37814: Hey, whatever makes you happy with your sandwich!

>56 weird_O: I know I already wished you a happy one on your thread, but why not again?! Happy Birthday and may it be a year that ends on a higher note than this COVID-19 stuff.

>57 charl08: I am still reading The Shadow King, but it is very good so far. I have really enjoyed almost all of the books in my Powell's INDIEspensable collection. Let me know if you want to read one with me later this year. : )

>58 bell7: I understood the Colorism part, just not why they would endorse policies that negatively affect Black people in favor of Whites.

Also, I like to perm my hair and color it sometimes. When is it okay for Blacks to "play" with their hair and not have it be an attempt to be whiter? Or is that just not possible right now?

>59 Donna828: Thank you, Donna!!! : )

>60 ronincats: (((Roni)))

>61 ffortsa: I definitely have to reread sections, so I am happy to be reading How to be an Antiracist in print. Although it would be nice to hear it read in his voice.

>62 weird_O: And??? Which Kindle book did you get?

>63 tangledthread: Hi there! I hope you enjoy The Highest Tide. It was a really nice break from all the heavy stuff I've been reading (Race, Dementia, Mussolini).

>64 Familyhistorian: Happy to have posted an image of your favorite sandwich!! LOL. And also hitting you with a BB. I hope you can get your hands on a copy soon. Come visit any time. ; )

>65 jnwelch: Have you started How to be an Antiracist yet? And how is the discussion going? I think that's a great idea and I have been doing that with one of my friends, although not chapter by chapter.

>66 SandyAMcPherson: You are totally forgiven and I appreciate the wave. Look how long it has taken me to get caught up on my own thread!! RL is certainly getting in the way for me. Oh well, I am here now.

>67 LovingLit: Yay! You found me again. Now my life is complete. : )

>68 Oregonreader: Hi, Jan. I am halfway through How to be an Antiracist. So worth reading!

>69 ffortsa: Yup. : )

>70 SandyAMcPherson: You know it's not fair to hit me with a BB on my own thread, right?! LOL. Off to take a look....

WLed!!

>71 nittnut: Thank you! Right now the crocosmia are in full bloom and the hummingbirds are loving it (and me, them!).

Look in the upper right corner.

>72 weird_O: I have been downtown during the day and also late at night AFTER the crowds have died down a bit. Pissed off that the Feds are here. I am happy to have people be able to air their differences. A little less vandalism would be appreciated, but honestly, I think things were settling down before the Feds and Border Patrol stepped in. And go Moms!! They are the latest to join the protests. If I wasn't so medically vulnerable I would love to be down there with them.

>85 Berly: Brilliant photo Kim, what a catch.

>73 banjo123: Things are going okay. My next hurdle is my sister is moving out here end of July with one of her kids. She wants a new start in life and she went to Univ of Puget Sound, so she loves it on the West Coast (she is currently in MN). She will be staying with me until she figures out where she wants to buy her new abode. With C-19 I am worried about more people in the house and her safely getting here, but I am also thrilled that she is coming! We get along great and it will be fun to have family nearby. Yay!

>74 bell7: What a nice sentiment!! Beautiful. Thank you so much. : )

My MIL seems to have settled into her new place really nicely. I have been trying to have my FIL over at least once or twice a week for dinner or drinks, so he is not all alone. He has always lived with someone as he got married right out of college. I also talk to him and my parents daily by phone of FaceTime.

Mostly life is good, but I have a few health things going on and it's not fun trying to deal with them during this C-19 thing. Oh well. I have an appointment tomorrow.

And despite the health stuff, I am also cramming for my TKD test which is supposed to be August 8th. Not sure if it can really happen. I am torn because it is much easier to do in person and do all the forms in a group; on ZOOM I would have to know all the forms cold and perform them by myself, with no one to "cheat" off if I got lost or forgot a move. There are over 25 forms, not to mention the same for nunchucks. On the other hand, I don't really want to be testing with a lot of people. So, we'll see...

>75 richardderus: Love and hugs gladly accepted. : ) I have been largely MIA on LT for the past two or three weeks. If it's not one things, it's another. Hope you are doing well. I will try to catch up on threads soon, but no promises. Smooches.

>76 Familyhistorian: Weather has been awesome! Did manage to drive down to the beach with my daughter this week. Just for the day. Absolutely gorgeous!

>77 BLBera: Hi, TwinB!! Remember that thing on my nose I was worried about? Yup. Skin cancer and I have to get it removed. Sigh. At least the upside of wearing masks all the time is no one can see the bandaid I have on! LOL

>78 LizzieD: Awww, thank you. Life has been very challenging for me these last 6 months. But so far I am still managing to find the positives in life. : )

>87 Caroline_McElwee: It is not a bad shot for a phone camera, and an old phone at that! They come to feed right in front of me, just two feet away. I love it.

Hi Kim my dear, hope all is well with you and the family and i just love the photo of the Hummingbird, sending love and hugs to you and the family from both of us dear friend.

I love the photo and how cool you got a hummer in there!! What a lot of change coming to your world too. I'm glad you're glad your sister is coming to Portland but, wow, a house full right now certainly sounds challenging. Take care of yourself too, OK?

>91 Berly: - Yikes, Kim. Is this something new or have you had to deal with this before? I have a friend going through this right now. I am glad you are getting it dealt with immediately. Take good care!

>80 Berly: Oh oh, I see what you're saying now. And in terms of Also, I like to perm my hair and color it sometimes. When is it okay for Blacks to "play" with their hair and not have it be an attempt to be whiter? Or is that just not possible right now? I'm not entirely sure what he means about that. I assumed he meant more along the lines of "natural" Black hair not being considered "professional" (something I'd never heard of before reading Americanah of all things, but one of my friends told me her mom was really nervous when she started going natural instead of straightening or particular styles). The closest equivalent I could come up with for white people would be telling someone she would have to dye her hair blue to be considered professional. But I would think anyone should be able to "play" with their hair if that's what they want to do to express themselves?

>84 Berly: Glad to put a smile on your face :) It sounds like life has been busy but in mostly good ways, so I'm glad to hear your MIL is settled in and your FIL has been over for dinner. Good luck with your appointment tomorrow too, and deciding how to do your TKD test. Whew, you sure do have a lot going on right now!

>91 Berly: Bummer

Go Moms! I can't believe Portland is being invaded by the Feds! Take care of yourself. You have a lot going on.

Hi Kim!

>88 Berly: So nice that your sister will be moving out there. My sister is 2,466 miles away and it wasn’t fun to be so far apart even before Covid-19.

>89 Berly: I hope your health things are helped by your appointment today.

>91 Berly: Boo flunk. Sorry about the skin cancer on your nose. Life has been very challenging for me these last 6 months. But so far I am still managing to find the positives in life. : ) A very good thing to do, not get mired down in the negative stuff. You just keep chugging along - I admire you.

Hang in there.

>85 Berly: brilliant photograph!
I love Crocosmia, but I haven't acquired a hardy cultivar (if there are any) for my Zone 2b.

>91 Berly: Been there as well, with skin cancer on my nose. Sending sympathy.
My age group (and even both of my daughters') was in the day when sunscreen was called "suntan lotion" . Remember sun block was SPF 8?!! That did diddly squat to stop UV light from causing deleterious changes.
Mine was a basal cell carcinoma, if you don't think that's TMI. My oncologist (who had to excavate mine because I didn't know better to get checked) says these non-melanoma types very rarely metastasize. I hope you feel reassured.

Hi Kim my dear, i am sorry to hear about the skin cancer on your nose my dear, i do hope everything goes ok with the surgery. My late FIL had the same thing many years ago and everything went well and i am sure that will be the case with you.

Apart from the nose skin cancer i hope that you are all well and having a good start to the weekend, we are recovering from yesterdays trip out and the walking we did, more of that on my thread. I hope that you all have a great weekend and send love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

I don't know how I missed the nose cancer. Count me as another with a MOHS surgery on the bridge of my nose. I'm happy to be rid of it!
Sunscreen? I never heard of sunscreen. I'm just glad that I never used iodine in mineral oil as many of my friends did. In fact though, my mom put me out in the sun when I was an infant because I tanned so easily.
Have a fine weekend!

I've got a spot on my face that was burned (frozen?) off a couple of years ago, but it's back, so I should probably have it attended to. It was deemed likely pre-cancerous, but it's pretty stable in its little place. I'll get around to it. Hope your excision is uneventful. And that everyone is doing well.

Love your garden space!! >85 Berly: and that is just a beautiful shot!!

Good luck with your TKD test, Kim. It probably helps to have that to take your mind off all the things you are contending with now. It seems like there's always a little something extra to add to your pile. Hope the nose treatment is fast and painless. Wanting to hide your bandaged nose during a time of mask wearing is one of the most positive things I've heard about having to wear a mask i public these days.

>39 Berly: I've ordered The Book, and it comes out in mid-September. I don't have to wait that long.
Good luck with your TKD test and best wishes for your nose, Kim

Good luck with your TKD test and also the nose.

If you do a Zoom discussion on How to be An Antiracist, I'd love being in on it.

Hi Berly-boo! I miss seeing you around here. *smooch*

That is all.

Hi Kim, just passing through and catching up. That's a lovely picture garden picture at >85 Berly: and Mr. Hummer is a great bonus. Sorry to read about the nose cancer but, fingers crossed, it sounds like you have caught it early. Good luck with your upcoming full house!

Okay. Pant, pant, pant. I rearranged the house and made an office for my hubby (the dining room table was no longer working for a variety of reasons), cleaned out a bedroom for my sister and turned my meditation room (finished attic space) into another room for my nephew. They arrived on Thursday and are here to stay until my sister lands a job (she wants a new start in life) and figures out where she wants to live. Could be anywhere from 1-6 months I guess. What a crazy time to do this! But her boys just graduated HS and she is very tired of MN winters. So....

Still haven't heard when my nose is getting cured. Glad to hear it has been an easy fix for several of you.

I also have a small skin problem with my ostomy site (ulcerative colitis for this of you who don't know me), which I am working on solving.

And in the midst of all this, my TKD test is next Saturday. Yes, despite my rather long list of medical stuff, I refuse to give in!

Oh, and I've read some books. More on that later.

Thank you for all the messages. Hoping to be back here more regularly after this next week.

Love and miss you all! Hugs. : )

>108 Berly: Sounds like a lot on your plate Kim, which of course is not unusual. I hope you can keep all the plates spinning, and find a little time for yourself too.

Hugs, TwinK.

>109 Caroline_McElwee: What Caro said. Take care of yourself while you're taking care of everyone else, okay? Okay!

Looking forward to hearing about your books.

>108 Berly: ((((((HUGS)))))))

You Go Girl!!

Hi Kim my dear, it sounds like you are going to be busy with a house full for an indeterminate time period. I hope the TKD test goes well for you but do take things nice and steady whilst you have your sister and her children with you. Sending special Yorkshire love and hugs to you and all your family from both of us dear friend.

Sending lots of supporting vibes from Chicago. What a lot you've got going on!

>108 Berly: so is Husband asked to work from home now? (and, lots of other questions, but that is the main one)
I initially set up my work space in the lounge (when we started our 49 day lock-down at the end of March). But with the kids being there, and the open plan house etc. it just wasn't tenable. Me and the lovely other ended up doing shift work hours in our bedroom! My 5 hour days and his 8 hours ones resulted in long days ...I am so glad it is over.

Wow sounds like you've got a lot going on! Hope it goes well with your sister moving in!

>108 Berly: Wow! Sounds like you have been quite busy!!

Good luck with everything :)

I hope you're getting some Kim time with all this busy-ness.

I do envy you your sister being there. I hope she finds a job soon. What is your nephew going to do? Go to college or find a job?

My sister is ~2600 miles away and I miss her dreadfully.

We miss family hugely, but I'm pretty sure we'd find it a strain having people stay for months on end.
We've gotten so used to having the place to just the 2 of us, that after a week, even beloved family and friends, we're ready to be on our own again.

I wonder how dysfunctional I'm getting with so much isolation. I'm making an effort to visit on our back patio with close friends (one at a time). With winter to plan on, I'm not sure what we'll do but I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

I hope you enjoy the time with your sister and nephew. As Laura said (#111), "Take care of yourself while you're taking care of everyone else", yeah!

>120 SandyAMcPherson: Yes, I worry also about my social dysfunction getting worse!

A couple we know has invited us to dinner on the roof of their building (absent rain), and that feels safe enough for now. But I'll probably still be nervous.

>120 SandyAMcPherson: I like my daughter living here. Like the rest of us she requires a lot of time by herself, so that works.
Once, long ago, I was left depressed in a largish apartment for which I could barely cover the rent and the landlord proposed that her sister-in-law and two school age kids, take the spare bedroom until a messy marital situation could be resolved. I think the strangers saved my life, as I was as depressed as I have ever been. Later I had a series 3 other renters, acquired trough adds at work until Mike moved in.

So far, so good. No plates have broken. TKD test by ZOOM on Saturday. Love having my sister and nephew here!

I''l be back next week. Thanks for all the messages.

xoxo

(spinning plate image idea from Caroline >109 Caroline_McElwee:) : )

Hi, Kimmers! Glad to see the updates. Good luck with those spinning plates. You are an amazing woman.

>124 msf59: I second that! Glad to hear the plate-spinning is going well. Good luck with your test!

Good luck with the TKD test via Zoom tomorrow, as well as all your other spinning plates!

Sending mojo north for your test today!!

Hi Kim! I see you are still kicking butt as usual!

>123 Berly: Nice to see those plates still spinning.

((((((Kimmers)))))))

Hope your TKD test was a success. I am still in the dark what that acronym stands for, though. Must have missed something in a previous thread... but best wishes anyway!

I hope your TKD test went well, Kim. Must be hard to do it on Zoom. Good luck with everything!

>132 SandyAMcPherson: TKD = Tae Kwon Do, Sandy.

>133 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg!

I hope, you are well, Kim.
I wish you a wonderful weekend.

Thank you everyone!! Yes, I passed the TKD test. It was all on Zoom, which was a very weird experience and I had to know the forms even better than normal cuz there was no one standing next to me to cue off of if I got lost. So, I know the forms better than I probably ever have! Fortunately, I know the nunchucks stone cold. Then during the week at appointed times, everyone had to go to the do jang to have the Master hold boards for board breaking. Two hand techniques and two foot. Nailed those, too. Phew!! Done until November, when we will hopefully get back on track for testing timing.

Yay!!

On a much more sober note, my MIL, who we recently placed in a memory care unit, has taken a turn for the worse. I don't think she is going to last much longer. She has basically become unresponsive and is no longer eating or drinking. She has a DNR order in place and is receiving only comfort care, so I am not sure how much longer she will be with us. Because it is near the end, the facility has waived COVID restrictions and allowed us to go inside and spend time with her, two at a time. So very sad.

Thankfully, my sister and her son have been with us these last two weeks and they have added a much needed sense of fun and provided a nice change in the family dynamics--more people to interact with. They were super careful on their trip out here and we are all in alignment in our COVID practices. I have been playing lots of board games with them--Stasia would be so proud!!! The latest was Villainous and we just got an expansion pack for my oldest so she can Zoom play with us next time.

Sorry to hear about your MIL Kim, but glad the family can see her. I hope her passing will be peaceful.

Glad you have the extra company for fun and support.

And congratulations on passing your test too.

>137 Berly: - So sorry to hear this, Kim. My aunt passed away 2 weeks ago, exactly one week after falling in her apartment and hitting her head. My cousin, her only son, lives in the States and had actually come to Montreal to visit shortly before her fall but had to spend 2 full weeks in quarantine in a hotel room. She died while he was in quarantine. I am glad that your MIL's facility is waiving the rules and being compassionate. I guess because no borders have been crossed. Or because they are just more compassionate. This COVID just sucks on so many levels. {{hugs}} to all.

>138 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. Life has certainly had its ups and downs these last few months. I am glad I have such supportive family and friends!!

>139 jessibud2: Sorry to hear about your Aunt's passing. And that just sucks that your cousin was unable to be with her in the end. I hate COVID. I am sure that if my MIL was in a hospital, we would be unable to visit her, but she is in a private facility and we can visit her in her bedroom, which is a double, but currently she doesn't have a roommate so the contamination is pretty minimal. We have to answer a long survey and have our temp and O2 levels taken before admittance. I am fine with all that and are glad that they are being careful. And very glad that they are willing to make an exception for end of life visits. We are limited to her husband and her children. As a DIL, I am borderline, but they let me in. So far we have not been granted permission for the grandkids to visit.

Hi Kim my dear, congrats on passing the TKD Test but sorry to hear about your MIL, i hope her passing will be as peaceful as can be dear friend. Sending love and hugs to you and the family from both of us dear friend.

>140 Berly: Thank you, John. Your sympathy, congratulations and hugs are all so appreciated. : )

It sounds like you and sis are having a great time. So sorry to hear about your MIL. I hope she doesn't suffer too much. How is your FIL doing? This has to be hard for him.

Congrats on passing your TKD -- not that I ever doubted you!

>143 BLBera: Hi Twin! My FIL is doing okay. I think he has been mourning the loss of his wife for a while now as the dementia has gotten more and more severe. But I know it is still hitting him hard. My SIL came down for the weekend and I know that will help him. And we are officially over our self-imposed quarantine with my sister's arrival so we can start having him over again, too.

>140 Berly: - I had gone to Montreal to be with my mum, as I worried how she would take it. I was able to visit my aunt the day before she passed away, in hospital. All those precautions you mentioned were taken. PLUS, I had to watch a video on donning and doffing PPE (hand washing protocol, gown, gloves, mask, face shield, etc. before they would even let me upstairs to the palliative unit. I wasn't even allowed to take my purse into the room, had to leave it by the door. Only 4 visitors were on the visitor list and only one allowed into the room at a time. I was so shrink-wrapped that I am quite sure no germs would get into that room. She too, was unresponsive, in a coma really, and maybe that was a good thing. She'd have been mightily confused and unable to recognize any visitors, in our state if she'd been awake. On the one hand, of course I understand. On the other hand, well, given the circumstances, I do think a tiny bit of leeway would not have caused anything dire to happen. My aunt was tested 3 times in the week she was there and she did not have covid. It was a nasty hit to the head, sustained in the fall, that caused her to succumb.

>145 jessibud2: Glad you got a chance to see her before she passed. So unlucky that the fall caused her death. Dang. Big hugs to you and yours.

Just adding my congratulations to you for your TKD results -- I never doubted you would make it though :)

Warm thoughts to you and your family as your mother-in-law fades. I know it's hard and I'm glad you're able to be with her. Peace and comfort to you all.

Hi Kim! Congrats on the TKD test--you are amazing.
So sorry about your mother-in-law, glad that you all are getting visits.

>137 Berly: Oh dear, Berly-boo, that is not a fun passage. I'm sad with you all that she's leaving but very happy for her that she's not leaving in pain.

I'm really sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Congratulations on your TKD results. You and >139 jessibud2: had sadder news. Alas, as my mother said when told of my uncle's death, there's a lot of that going around. So sorry for both your families.

(((((Hugs))))) for you and your MIL.
Kisses for you for your TKD excellence.

My MIL peacefully passed early this morning. I am glad that she is no longer in pain and that now the dementia is gone and she has all her wonderful memories back.

Thank you for all your kind thoughts.

I'm glad your MIL is now at rest Kim. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts.

Today is their 59th Anniversary. Kinda poetic.

Condolences, Kim, to you and all the family. How is your father in law absorbing it all? Good that (most of) the family is together.

My condolences, Kim, but I am thankful that she didn't linger, and her passing was peaceful. Sending hugs.

My condolences to all involved, Kim. It is hard to watch how dementia takes over.

Adding my sympathy to the thread on your M-I-L passing. These are even more difficult times for losing family. I'm glad you had your sister there and nephew.

Kim, I'm so sorry about your mother-in-law and that she died on her wedding anniversary. That made it doubly hard for your FIL I'm sure. My mother chose my husband's birthday to leave the world years ago. It was a bummer then, but now we know it was just her way to never be forgotten by him. (((HUGS)))

Condolences for your family's loss.

Condolences for your loss, Kim.
Thinking of you and yours.

So sorry for your loss, but I’m glad her passing was peaceful.

Sorry for your family's loss, Kim.

My condolences, Kim.

I'm glad the end was peaceful and hope your father-in-law is at peace with it too. Also glad you were all able to see her at the end in spite of the pandemic. Hugs to you all.

So sorry for your loss, Kim. Thinking of you and your family during this time.

Hi Kim my dear, so sorry to hear that your MIL passed away yesterday on her 59th wedding anniversary, she is no longer in pain and the dementia is gone and she can rest nice and easy in heaven. Although the last few months/years? have not been kind to her or you, you can remember all the good times and keep these thoughts close to your heart.

Thinking of you and all the family at this sad time and we send special Yorkshire love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

Congrats on your successful TKD test, Kim.

I'm so sorry to hear about your MIL's passing, but I'm glad it was a peaceful transition and that family was able to visit. Thinking of you & your family.

Condolences to your family, Kim, on the passing of your MIL. It was lovely that her family was able to be with her some of the time near the end.

((((Kim))))

so sorry for your family's loss. But as others have said, it's good that it was gentle and she didn't linger. I hope your FIL is weathering this as well as can be expected.

Hi Kim.

I am so sorry to hear that your MiL passed, so glad you were allowed to visit regardless of Covid. Poetic justice to pass on their 59th anniversary. My maternal grandfather had been dead since 1957, but my grandmother passed on their 75th wedding anniversary in 2003.

I am glad to hear that your sister/son have settled in nicely and that your passed your TKD test.

*hugs*

My sympathy on your MIL passing, Kim. My parents had DNR orders, so I have a feel for how that goes. This was pre-pandemic, so we could all gather with each of them. I'm glad the hospital waived the covid restrictions for you all at the end.

Congrats on passing your TKD test. Fortunately, I know the nunchucks stone cold. Color me impressed. I studied kung fu as a lad, and those were tough to do well. Your TKD is a great way to stay in shape during the pandemic. We work with a trainer via Facetime on an iPad (we have enough equipment in our basement), and it really helps.

Sorry to hear about your MIL, TwinK. At least she didn't suffer long.

Your MIL's passing peacefully is a blessing, Kimmers. My condolences to you and your husband - this has been one heck of a testing year for so many!

Hi Kim, I am visiting some threads and see that your July/August has been busy. YAY for sister and nephew arriving and congratulations on passing your TKD test! Very sorry to learn about your MIL's passing. As you said, at least now she will no longer be in pain, which is a good thing. My condolences to you and your family for this loss.

Adding my condolences to the chorus about your mother in law, Kim.

Kim, I'm so sorry to hear of your MIL's passing. My condolences to you and your family.

Once again, thank you all for the wonderful wishes and condolences. We have decided on a virtual celebration of life to be held in September and will save my MIL's ashes to spread in some of her favorites spots when it is once again safe to gather together. She was a truly wonderful lady and I was so lucky to inherit her as my second mom. I miss her a lot.

And on that note, I am going to start a new September thread, which I hope will be a little more upbeat, but with Covid-19 and Rump, who knows!?!? : )

>45 Berly: ooh, you got me with a big BB for The Highest Tide! Sounds great!

Karen O.

: )