Delivering the news is a distinct business. We know how to pronounce Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and whether or not to take an umbrella.  Morning news is even more unique because of the hours we keep in order to gather the latest stories by daybreak.  Like vampires, we are asleep when the sun shines and working when most of civilization is not.  With this backward schedule, it can take a Herculean effort to find time to socialize with other humans, and not just our best friends Tivo and Netflix.
 
I figured a good way to get out and meet people was to volunteer at non-profits and join a business group.  Both have proven to be extraordinary experiences and I’ve made some great friends while helping our community.  Coaching youth sports has been another opportunity that I continue to have a blast doing.  Truth is, there’s no one like a 10-year-old to keep you in check.  And if you’ve read the previous Whitney Report, you know I’m on a tear with knitting classes. I’m thinking about making a ‘Mac cozy’ for my laptop, like those fluffy toilet seat covers in the Midwest.

Of all my pursuits to Get Involved, one has been especially rewarding, and that’s been my book club.  Once a month we get together for a few hours to discuss the latest novel, nosh without concern for calories, and to catch up on each other's lives.  Yes, there may be few bottles of wine involved.  Elizabeth Long, author of Women and the Uses of Reading in Everyday Life, suggests that women utilize book club conversation "as a lens to consider issues in their lives" and "a legitimate way" to get away from the pressures of jobs and family.

Our book club members are all avid readers and I love hearing their literary assessments, especially as it relates to their personal experiences.  I've found I enjoy our banter, laughter, and dispensing of opinions as much as I like checking books off of my never-ending reading list.  I guess book clubs aren't always so much about books as they are about the people who read them.

Happy reading, happy living.