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From: McDermott, Katie: NPSO
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 1:51 PM
To: McDermott, Katie: NPSO; 'jmcdermott@glencove.k12.ny.us'; 'nualamcdermott@hotmail.com'; 'kmcdermott@jhcohn.com'; 'sheenaone@yahoo.com'; 'gmcdreh@optonline.net'; 'katemcdermott@comcast.net'; 'rita_mcdermott@mcgraw-hill.com'; 'roscommon1972@yahoo.com'; 'eliza_layne@hotmail.com'; 'Bernadette McDermott'; 'erin friar'; 'Bonnie McDermott'; 'McDermott, Helen (Exchange)'
Cc: 'McDermott, Gerald'
Subject: RE: Book Club: "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult on Friday, May 2
Hi-
By now you all know the sad news - Sheena passed away this weekend. After her long, brave struggle, her death seemed so quick. But she died as she had lived - on her own terms.
It's hard to believe that just over a week ago she was sitting at my mom's table with her glass of wine for another session of the McDermott Women's Book Club.
In lieu of flowers, Sheena's requested that donations be made to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org). We are going to make a donation from the book club (and well, one flower arrangement from the group will hardly be noticed...). If you would like contribute, let me know how much but no pressure and I know some people will be doing it themselves.
As a "founding member", Sheena asked that we continue the book club after she was gone. I very much would like to honor that wish - you really need to twist my arm for me to leave the girls with Eugene while I go hang out with all of you to drink wine and, to paraphrase, "Eat, Talk, Laugh" - but I for one am willing to do just that for Sheena!
It all started with Karen and Sheena coming over to my mom's whenever Ger came from the Island (I was a given to be there). We'd have our glasses of wine, but we often discussed books so what a great idea - let's start our own book club! Karen noted that really it would only be an excuse for us to drink wine to which Sheena replied, "That's the whole point!"
I think we all realize how great the book club has been in getting us to re-connect, and that we really enjoy it. Whether it continues will depend on us and I hope it does. We are postponing Friday's meeting to later this month. This next meeting will again be at my mom's house, and we can discuss logistics then for the future ones, but some thoughts:
1. Next date: how does May 16th work for the next meeting? The other option is May 23, but that's the Friday starting Memorial Day weekend so not sure of people's plans. And after that it goes into June - I'd prefer not to leave it so long.
2. Frequency: around every 6 weeks, give or take a week or two. This will give us a better chance to get through the books (and not only 2 weeks to get through the longest selection so far Geraldine…). We can decide on an agreeable date at the end of a meeting like we do now.
3. Location: we'll rotate location. It’s been great to have them at Livingston Ave - thanks so much mom. But we can start taking turns at other homes. We'll have to figure out just how far we are able to travel (round trip from Medford, Long Island to Furlong, PA is not exactly doable on a Friday evening), but we should be able to figure it out.
And Sheena's website looks great - I am going to post the books we've read for the book club there:
http://www.sheena1.com/
She will certainly be missed and we were all blessed to know her.
Thanks,
Katie
P Please consider the environment before printing this email or its attachments.
_____________________________________________
From: McDermott, Katie: NPSO
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 2:38 PM
To: 'jmcdermott@glencove.k12.ny.us'; 'nualamcdermott@hotmail.com'; 'kmcdermott@jhcohn.com'; 'sheenaone@yahoo.com'; 'gmcdreh@optonline.net'; 'katemcdermott@comcast.net'; 'rita_mcdermott@mcgraw-hill.com'; 'roscommon1972@yahoo.com'; 'eliza_layne@hotmail.com'; 'Bernadette McDermott'; 'erin friar'; 'Bonnie McDermott'
Cc: 'McDermott, Gerald'
Subject: Book Club: "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult on Friday, May 2
We just can't get enough of these literary celebrations!
Details for the next session:
Date: Friday, May 2
Time: 8:30 sharp!
Book: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult - recommended by Geraldine this time, so if you don’t like it you know who to blame!
Thanks,
Katie
Kate McDermott wrote:
-------------------------------
Hi-
Just thought I'd share this with all of Sheena's friends - the following are the selections we've read over the last few months for the "McDermott Women's Book (and Wine) Club":
1. Nov 9: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
2. Dec. 7: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
3. Jan 11: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
4. Feb 8: Postcards by E. Annie Proulx
5. March 7: What is the What by Dave Eggers
6. March 28: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
7. April 18: Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
8. TBD: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
We've had a great time discussing these - some more so than others. Please note not all of these were endorsed by Sheena - she recommended 1, 4, 6 & 7 (and full disclosure - she HATED 2).
She asked that we keep the book club going after she was going, so I will continue to post the additional books for those interested.
We all miss her greatly.
Thanks,
Katie |