Book Group has an Evening with Anne Lamott

The East End book club had a fantastic night last night...Anne Lamott. In town for the Kachemak Bay Writers Conference, Anne gave an informal talk for the community at the Mariner Theater. Our group had to continue the tradition: the annual theme dinner and brush with greatness. Last years brush with greatness was Amy Tan. Would Anne be able to hold up the legacy?We started the evening at Mema's Shack, where we enjoyed food that revolved around our theme 'Light Northern California fare'. Jean brought smoked salmon, delicious. Suzanne made a lentil curry from the WW cookbook.

Marina and I made fiddleheads again and totally knocked it out of the park! Mema made hard salami roll-ups with cream cheese and dill pickles. This was really the downfall of Suzanne and I as we reminisced about our days eating salami in the Sonoma Valley. The group voted for me to be the one to ask Anne a question, as I was the one who asked Amy Tan the question last year. I said that I would be glad to ask her if I could think of one.
Here is a bunch of us book groupers in the theater. On the far left side of this picture is Jenny, who is Suzanne's friend from Anchorage who is here for the summer. She is the one this year who was able to stand up and ask Anne a question. She's read all of her books for heaven's sake! It was a great question about finding forgivness.

Here is Anne Lamott at the door greeting us! Can you imagine? Irene says that being with Anne Lamott was like having coffee with your best girlfriend, being at a political rally and a church service all wrapped up into one. I think that is true.

But for me hearing Anne speak was also like going to hear a lecture by a Buddhist monk. She could vocalize a part of our Christian tradition that is so often over looked or brushed off or poo-pooed. That part is the suffering. So often I feel like we are told that we will suffer less if we pray more. Like if we want to be good church ladies we have to be Paulianna's. Anne Lamott pretty much said, "Life is Suffering. We all suffer equally. We are loved equally by God and we suffer equally. Why be ashamed of that? Why try to hide that? That is what is real. Be real."

She was so laid back and casual. Amy Tan was much more formal and serious. Anne was hilarious, honest, self-depreciating, and spiritual. So spiritual! With great tips on how to keep spirit in your heart that did not even offend the atheists in the crowd and yet were so real.

She said at the beginning that she would not be personalizing the books that she signs, that she would sign anything that we wrote. Here is what she wrote in mine...

Irene and I decided that we will lead a summer Sunday School around her book, Grace (Eventually). We think it will be super fun.

Thank you Mom for having another super party at your place. Thank you Anne for coming to our town and invigorating us! This evening totally lived up to the Book Group Living Legend Legacy!