12 Years – 100 Books
by Shirley Heine
TWELVE YEARS — ONE HUNDRED BOOKS
There are many book clubs, I’d venture to say And you could join one any old day.
But there is a very special one in Menlo Park
That stands out like a beacon in the dark.
You can’t just wander in announcing your interest
And say that you “saw something” about us on Pinterest.
No, you must be invited in; we know that sounds exclusive.
But the reasons for that are really not very illusive.
We are not just a book club, you see; we are friends
Committed to growing together ‘til life ends.
We share our joys and we share our sorrows;
We share our uncertainty about our tomorrows.
We read, we discuss and sometimes disagree
But always we listen and learn…. To a degree.!
Some prefer biographies, others can’t stand ‘em!
Some like the Classics, some read at random.
No matter what the subject, it never fails to delight.
And we go home exclaiming it has been a good night.
We have completed our twelvth year, and read our 100th book.
I can’t even guess how many hours that took!
Though no one is counting! Because those are the best of times
In another world,… until the doorbell chimes
And we are shocked to discover that the book is now thinner
And we have read straight through from lunch until dinner!
What other book club, I ask you please
Would hold one of their meetings overseas?
Well, we have done it. Don’t you remember?
We all went to Kauai one September.
And once we went to Boston just to visit a museum
That housed some artworks and we wanted to see ‘em.
Some trips are local. Some benefit a good cause.
For some there is no reason, we go “just because”.
We’ve been known to go to a movie when we’re in the mood
And even reinforce the experience with ethnic food.
Remember “Memoirs of a Geisha”, which the husbands all hated
And the women sat there with breath abated!
Then we all went for Japanese food and tried to eat eel.
I guess some people liked it, though it wasn’t ideal.
We have had wonderful parties too throughout the seasons:
For birthdays and holidays and other reasons.
We know that we are lucky and that we are truly blessed
And so we support a teacher in ways she couldn’t have guessed.
Because we love books, we assume that she does too.
Perhaps we have overwhelmed her a time or two.
What makes a book club special? I’ll tell you in a minute.
It’s not the books , it’s the people in it.
Each woman is indispensible; a very special jewel.
She brings a unique perspective, as a rule.
Her opinion enhances us and makes us more complete
We need each and every member every time we meet.
As the years go by and the memories pile up
Each new experience is nectar in my cup.
So tonight we raise our glasses to congratulate ourselves.
For reading all those books sitting dog-eared on our shelves.
And for the Yale Road Book Club, our little slice of heaven!
On a scale of one to ten, we rate you an Eleven!
Shirley