Reading with my Finger in the Book

I am reading two books concurrently, Angle of Repose and The Troubled Man. I really don't know if I'm loving The Angle because of the book or because of the great discussions we are having at our weekly PALAC meetings or because it sort of reminds me of family. Wallace Stegner was born in Saskatchewan 3 years before my father, several hundred miles south of Dad's birthplace. He had a different life, at first a very hard life, then a very blessed life in that he got his college education and degree, then a very writerly life. Dad followed his own straightforward life from 8th grade to a skilled profession to retirement. In between he pursued his interests without benefit of degree. It all mixes together in my head. I L O V E this. I love the connections to my family in my mind, I love the depth of Stegner's writing, I love the discussions I have with these very interesting people.

We were talking last week about why the character in the book, Lyman, had such difficulty with his son. I asked the two men in the group if they had sons. If so, how did they feel they were doing? Poor Bob was the only guy with a son and he had completely disappointed him. Too much information. Boy, did I feel bad. But I remembered how Dad wanted his two very bright sons to be just like him. Engineers, bah. Can you build a fence? Sure, that was in my Beginning Engineering 101 class. Sons have it rough with dads and Lyman's son has it rough with him. And since the book is written from Lyman's viewpoint, poor Rodman does't have a chance. I'd probably like him, like I love and admire my brothers.

Also, Lyman is worried about the end of his life. After all, he is 60. Sigh. (And horribly crippled, but I still just hear 60.)

Then there is The Troubled Man. I slept through the first part last night, but I am catching up on all that today. What I know for sure is that Kurt Wallender's (the protagonist's) Dad died of Alzheimer's complications. In between solving an interesting mystery, he is dealing with his own aging. Yep. 60. These guys are such wimps. However, Wallender is displaying symptoms of Alzheimers. Just my feelings. He may just be experiecing overload. That's what I always tell myself when I forget. So, the story is good, but I am missing Per. He turned me on to Wallender. After reading my last Swedish mystery (there are so many) I chatted him that I wanted to cruise around there with him when he got better. He was a little sad that his father is dying and we couldn't go right away.

Per's funeral was Saturday. I could not tell his sisters that we loved and cared for him despite the outcome. All I could do was cry. But only about Per. At the funeral I talked to some people about health care benefits, others about people in their departments. But not about Per. Our dear friend Tom gave an endearing tribute to his friend. Per's friend and one time boss, Manny, told about Per training him on the pagination system and being scared shitless as that was happening. I talked to Manny later. I told him how much Per cared about him. Per was very particular. I slipped under the wire because I didn't have anything to do with the pagination system. We just lunched and socialized. My favorite thing was "what are you reading?" "What are you anxious to see?" "What do you recommend?" "What are you cooking?" It was my most stimulating time. Now I have PALAC. But no Per.

No "Hubba, hubba." No, "Hi, beautiful." No Per. But we know the Life is Good (LIG) and now we know that LGO (Life Goes On.) It does.

Stuff

No, not my favorite word for miscellaneous thoughts and things. Stuff, the book about people who hoard. A couple of my nephews had a grandmother who hoarded. It is the topic d'jour, many reality programs on cable focus on it. The book was highly recommended and I will join those people who like it. I especially liked it because it gave me insight into what was going through that bright, charming grandmother's head as she filled all the rooms of her apartment. It seems to me that her grandsons did a good job in dealing with this. They loved her and took care of her to the end and didn't start to reclaim the apartment until she had died. That may be the only answer.

Okay, a little of my kind of stuff. Tomorrow I will be attending the funeral service for Per. His sisters will be there from Denmark. I am anxious to meet them. I know that a lot of people from The Times will also be there. They will not leave here without knowing that Per was loved. Since I didn't see him often lately, just emailed and gchatted, it's still hard for me to believe that I won't see him again. So I think I'll just keep putting his pictures in my blog. This one was taken at my going away party. He sure looks happy.

Per

My friend Per, who has been suffering from an odd twist of fate that left a hole in him, has succumbed to a mysterious complication from the latest operation designed to make him whole. Now the hole is in my heart. This big Danish bear who said he didn't like people yet was a good friend to all he let get close to him will be missed. Every day.

Wow Oh Wow

It's hard to say that I'm really busy. I get out of bed at 8:30 or 9:00 or 10:00. I'd be at least starting work at that time, if I were working, if it wasn't that time in my work career when I had to be at work at 6:30 a.m. Oh, my blood just started flowing the other way. I still get up early, but now I go back on my iPod to listen to what ever story is very interesting at the moment. There are so many. And I will lay there as if I was sleeping until what ever hour suits me. Hey, this is pretty nice!

I haven't told you about my PALAC groups and one is almost over - Fragile States. We are looking at Fragile or Failing States and how they might affect us. US, not so much unless we are talking about Mexico. Take a look at the link. We are yellow, Mexico is orange. Canada and Scandinavia are green. At least we don't have a red lurking on our border. What makes Mexico orange is that drug problem and, I think, bandits on the southern border, something about oil. Yada, yada, yada. This is all really interesting. The group is making me think, we haven't really discussed Mexico, so I'm not sure about all its issues, but I am fully aware of Congo, East Timur and Bosnia's issues. A former prof from Occidental College leads the group. Love him. Lot's of feisty seniors in the group. "Tax them and tell them not to have kids." "Which tribes are beating up on other tribes?" Love them. Monday nights, but just three. We have the third tomorrow. So sad.

Tuesday afternoons are Angle of Repose. So good. I read this back in 1994. How do I know? Before I had Audible, I had Books on Tape. They sent big boxes of tapes for us to listen to. Before they folded into Audible, I was able to create a spreadsheet of books read, date rented, authors, readers, and genres. 1994. 17 years ago. Needless to say, I'm glad to be reading it again. Wallace Stegner is a great writer. I also read his book about surveying the West either just before or after Angle. Great group. A very dictatorial leader. I like her, but she is funny if you get off topic. Have you ever heard me stay on topic? I will not be moved, but in this case I don't care enough to man the barricades. I do keep putting in my two cents about what it was like to be a Shelley-type creature in the age of Aquarius. Sorry that you would have to actually read the book to know who Shelley is.

I went to old Pasadena royalty on Saturday. I work with the daughter of the old Mayor of Pasadena. They live in a lovely old house overlooking the Rose Bowl. I got to go inside on Saturday to see how Old Pasadena lives. In fact, all these groups in PALAC allow me to see some pretty lovely old houses. This is why there will never be a group meeting at Casa Norman. I can see them sitting on my bed. OK for family, but others? No. Anyway, Louisa is fun to be with. I helped her with some Excel questions and we went out to lunch. Busy in a Peggy kinda way.

4 Things

1. I noticed yesterday that I my first post from India was posted on 3/31 four years ago. Damn, it is so easy to sound like an Old Fart. - especially when you are one. It just seems like yesterday. And yet, it's good to have a record of all that since I would surely have forgotten the details.

2. Speaking of dates, I am attending PALAC wine tasting on 5/15 and 7/24. I know that doesn't mean anything to most people, but that is my sister's and my brother's birthdays. Nice to know I will be eating and drinking with good people while thinking of a couple of dear people.

3. I'm listening to Master and Commander. Yes, it was a movie some time ago. Yes, it's a pretty old book, but it was on sale. I'm enjoying it immensely. This is the first book in a long series.. The author, Patrick O'Brien, takes a long time to explain how the schooner works, what the Maritime traditions are in England, everything. And I'm glad he does. I just can't get my bil, Peter, out of my mind. He loves to sail. So the Commander in the book looks like him. I know he will not be hurt because he is the Commander for a long time. Yea, Peter.

4. Mark and Trina, mostly Trina, are having difficulties with the pregnancy that will result in a lovely new great nephew. She is in good hands at a local hospital and there she will stay until the young one finally shows up. We are all hoping that won't happen until May. Fingers crossed, everyone, and if you pray, please do so.

Thanks.