Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience

Mark Twain once signed an autograph album with the following quote:

“Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.”

Except for the part about the sleepy conscience, this quote could describe my mom’s book club, a delightful group of thoughtful women who enjoy both the reading and the socializing aspect of their membership duties.

They chose the book my daughter Katherine and I wrote, Lambeau Ladies: The Boundary-Breaking Women Behind Lombardi’s Packers for this month’s discussion and they kindly invited me to present.

I loved our discussion. They asked such excellent questions and offered insight I really appreciated into the book and the NFL franchise it celebrates.

Katherine and I wrote the stories, but my mom, Peggy Kostelnik, lived them. So, it’s always extra special when she comes along to chime in.

Our hosts, Alice and her husband Len, outdid themselves. Alice whipped up a delicious “Lambeau Ladies” punch, and Len grilled brats for the post-book-discussion tailgate.

Most of my mom’s book club members live in her neighborhood, an enviable place where people check in on each other regularly and someone is always hosting something. They have monthly luncheons and driveway happy hours. My mom’s social calendar is far busier than mine, thanks to her own “let’s go” attitude and her neighbors’ kind sociability.

Thank you so much to Alice and the Pond View Book Club for choosing our book for your October read. I loved your questions, your observations and your post-discussion feast.

On a side note: My mom and I will be presenting the book at the Wisconsin Book Fair next Friday (October 16th). Katherine and I were thrilled to learn that Lambeau Ladies was chosen as one of the books that will be highlighted at the festival. So, if you come to our presentation at the Madison Public Library Central Branch on Friday at 4:30, you’ll receive a free book! We hope to see you there.