Bookclub at Roe’s. The first to arrive was Kathy, Louisa and Nancy.
Kathy bought with her news of her first grandchild, a son born to William and
Dana, born 2/21/13, named Oliver William Gerken, 7 lb, 4 oz., in Kentucky.
Kathy was beaming and we are all so thrilled for all of them. Exciting and
great news! Baby, mom and dad are doing very well. Glad to hear that Ryan
and Dana’s triplets, all over 3 pounds, (2 boys, 1 girl), doing well with
expectations of delivery around end of March. Nancy soon to be a grandma,
(hope knee gets better and your shoulder also, Louisa).
The rest of the group came shortly after, and offered congratulations to
the new “grandlady” Kathy.
I announced the recent engagement of my son Adam and Kim, wedding to
follow sometime next year. Can’t wait! After much toasting, laughter, baby
talk, photo sharing we went ahead and enjoyed (I hope they enjoyed), taco soup,
corn bread, salad.
Clear the table, throw the dishes in the dishwaster, get the coffee and tea
started (watch stove burner, so you don’t burn the house down, thanks Pam) and
let’s talk about the book.
Remember it is “bookclub”. The book,”Dear Cary”, My life with Cary,”
written by Dyan Cannon, his 4th wife. The book was
enjoyed by most of us. Ellen mentioned she had listened to an interview with
Dyan shortly after his death (1986) and it was very unfavorable to him. The
interview I saw was many years after his death, and after she wrote the book in
2011. It was more positive and painted a better picture of the Hollywood
legend. He was domineering, controlling and persuasive in getting her to try
LSD. Comments were made that Dyan seemed to be a strong personality and in
control of her life until she became involved with him. She tried to please him
to the point she experimented with this life changing drug and became more
submissive. I found it was a good biography of Cary, and even more so of Dyan
Cannon. She commented during her interview in 2011, that while she was hurting
and at the bottom, one can change their life, by finding the love inside
themselves and realizing that because one has been hurt they can still heal,
finding their inner strength, not turning to drugs, alcohol, but to those we
love and who love us. Not an easy task but one she managed to accomplish. Discussion about Cary Grant’s movie's followed, among the
favorites, “An Affair to Remember”, “North by Northwest”, one of my favorites,
“Charades”, so many. I know he was controlling, and not always pleasant, but
he had the “presence” and the “Charisma”and in my mind and in many, a true movie
idol.
Along the lines of nostalgia, Grace mentioned some old timers and favorite
movies, let’s not forget, “BackStreet”- Susan Hayward and John Gavin, a
favorite movie of Grace’s, Drika, myself and others. We went on an old movie
journey, discussing Rock Hudson, Deborah Kerr, Jane Wyman, and on and on.
We took a breather, and moved along after the book discussion to have
dessert, pastries, Choc. Chip cookies, brownies, cheesecake, and dark chocolates
(we had to have something healthy).
We toasted Kathy’s grandson, Oliver, Adam and Kim’s engagement and also
friendship. Another toast, but heck, an excuse for more wine.
The next book will be “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter “ by Carson Mccullough,
and that will be at Drika’s home in March. Sharon, we missed you.
I want to thank all of you for coming, for reading my book selection, for
eating my meal. Note to self, keep the cheesecake, loved the soup, but next
year, it will be “Italian”.
In closing, the words of another great personality, Red Skelton, MAY GOD
BLESS!
Love you ladies
Roe
