Wednesday Whine: Of Books, Blogs, Sisters & April

Can it truly be Wednesday again? I guess so – at least that is what my calendar says. As I sit here, Starbucks iced vanilla coffee in hand, I am wondering what happenings I might share with you from the past week. Well, let’s see…

Because I’m always interested in what books others are reading, perhaps I’ll tell you what I’ve been reading this week.

I just finished M. C. Dulac’s newest book, Midnight in Dublin.

Ms. Dulac came to my attention when I started following her blog and began reading her deliciously spooky and atmospheric tales. When she mentioned she had a new book coming out and offered to let me read a copy, I jumped at the chance. I will be reviewing Midnight in Dublin in the next week or so; I hope you’ll look for my review. In the meantime, if you get a chance, please check out Ms. Dulac’s website (here) and enjoy the fine fiction that she’s posted.

I am currently reading – and have just about finished – Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The wonderful sci-fi noir film (and one of my top ten favorite movies) Blade Runner was adapted from this terrific novel. I can honestly say that I’ve never read a story by Dick that I haven’t enjoyed. This novel is no exception. I like the sad, somber darkness of the tale. Who says sci-fi can’t move you? This one is very effective, and if you haven’t read any of Dick’s work, I highly recommend it.

Next on my agenda is a book I’ve been meaning to read for some time, Julia Lund’s Strong as Death: A Love to Live For. Julia is a fellow blogger (you can find her blog here). As I understand it, Julia’s tale is a young adult romance with a dark twist to it. I look forward to sharing with you more about this book in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you’ll want to check out her blog which is full of good stuff.

Aside from reading, I’ve been enjoying the appearance of spring. Finally! It seemed to take forever to get here.

The photo above was taken Monday from an office window; since then, only two days later, the buds on many of the trees are in full bloom, the grass needs to be cut, and the world (or at least my world) is full of vivid, emerald green grass and bright yellow forsythia. The weeping cherry trees are cotton candy pink, the birds are singing and Kate Loveton is – once again – in the land of the living.

It is a beautiful thing!

Speaking of beautiful things, how many of you have a sister (or sisters)? I have one sister. When we were younger, we never really got on very well. We seemed very different in outlook and personality. It wasn’t until we were getting well into our thirties that we began to see each other for pleasure and not for the sake of ‘family.’ I think the death of my dad had a lot to do with that. When he became very ill and, especially, when he was facing the end of his days, my sister and I began to realize that life was precious – and so are relationships with those who share our past history. We began to make time for one another. We’d go to wine festivals together, take the occasional trip to New York, attend concerts – even attend the occasional Star Trek convention. (Go ahead and laugh – I dare ya!) We did fun things – not just the obligatory family gatherings.

We also began to accept one another and embrace each other’s differences. Now the road we travel together is a lot less rocky and a great deal more fun. It is, as I said, a beautiful thing.

We are annual ticket holders to Baltimore’s theater season. This past Sunday, we went to see Wicked at the Hippodrome Theatre. It was a phenomenal show, and we greatly enjoyed it.

Wicked has a wonderful libretto, but I love the words from the song For Good particularly – the lyrics have always moved me – and I have to admit that both my sister and I had a tear in our eyes as we listened to the Wicked Witch and Glinda the Good sing together:

I’ve heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most, to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you…
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes the sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good.

I believe that as I grow to know my sister better – not just as my sister, but as a friend – that she has changed my life for good. I feel that way also about my closest of friends, those friends whose lives I’ve somehow stumbled into and wonder, “How did this come to be?”

Kismet?

Maybe. Whatever it is, it’s a beautiful thing.

On that note, I’ll end my Wednesday Whine, which really isn’t a whine at all. It’s spring and I’m happy. No need to whine when you have good books, lovely friends, a sister to share your life with – and the beauty of April to remind you that once again life is new and fresh and its beauty surrounds you.

It’s good to be a part of it.