Jesus, Etc.

Okay, so the real title of the book is Jesus, My Father, the C.I.A., and Me by Ian Cron.  It's a mouthful, huh?

A few of us enjoyed the book so much that we read his other novel Chasing Francis as well.  And when Jessica referred to the book club choice as "Jesus, Etc.," Becky's ears perked up in delight thinking there was yet another title by him she could read.  No such luck.

We savored a delicious trio salad meal at Nancy's house while discussing menopause, cemeteries, and last wishes.  I am going to be nice and not reveal which member shared that she wants her husband and her to be buried spooning.  I couldn't make this stuff up.

Our book choices always stimulate deep, personal discussion.  But this book perhaps more than the others struck a chord with our group as we explored the role of our parents in our lives.

• Greta brought up the universal question we all seem to ask, "Did you love me?" as we search for validation for our existence.
• We explored our responses of either wanting, or not wanting to be like our parents.
• We touched on the topic of alcoholism and addiction and the destruction it causes and can cause through family generations.
• It got personal as we shared the issues we have yet to resolve, or have been trying to resolve in our personal relationships with our parents.
• We thought about the emptiness a broken relationship with parents can create in a person and how people often try to fill those holes with something else, "Team Ian," for example.  We shared some ways that we have done that, too.
• The author's style was warm, engaging, vulnerable, and just the right blend of funny and serious.  We appreciated that.
• We wondered about the experience of writing a book like this as opposed to penning a blockbuster fiction novel.  It seems like it could be a healing experience for the author and also as others read it and find solace or comfort or solidarity it might encourage the author.
• Unfortunately, we had to think about the ways we could be screwing up our own children because it doesn't seem like a matter of if, but how.

Fun Facts:

I hope Erin doesn't get mad at me for posting this photo.  I feel that if you wear a strapless dress then cozy up with a blanket on the couch, then you have to be willing to accept the consequences:

We discussed adding a new member to the group.  Jessica deftly interrogated us as she simultaneously spewed out every possible scenario one could ever imagine about adding a member.  I think we were all impressed and slightly scared at the same time.

Nancy's dessert announcement: "I have dessert.  It's chocolate pie.  I did not make it.  It's good."

We revealed the next TWO book choices, although I think Greta was regretting that.

 the obligatory "wine-opening" shot