Books, Wine, Greenwood, and Green

On a cold, rainy night in Dallas, eight graduates of the University of Oklahoma and one graduate of Texas Tech Junior College (you know who you are) met at Times Ten Cellars to discuss the Bell Jar. It was the first meeting of this newly founded book club, one that had been postponed only once. Most of the girls had read at least 2/3 of the book. It seemed from the beginning that this would be a very successful night. So the girls sat around and shared their feelings about Esther Greenwood and her madness, Sylvia Plath and her suicide, and how thankful they were that they lived in a world where they were able to be independent women, without feeling guilty and depressed. The girls decided that this would be the beginning of a wonderful literary journey for them. After several bottles and glasses of wine they decided that every meeting from this point forward would take place at wine bars throughout Dallas. "What a wonderful idea," thought the Texas Tech graduate, "I used to work at a wine bar." The girls then turned the conversation to a rather sad note, and yes there are things that are sadder than the Bell Jar. One among them would be leaving soon to return to her Green roots in Oklahoma. She would be departing by the end of the month, only to return on weekends for parties and special occasions.

The self-appointed president of the book club fell asleep on her couch later that night with a little dog named Paul. He pooped and peed on the floor while she slept. She should have gotten those puppy pads last week at PetCo (where the pets go). When the self-appointed president woke up this morning she was very sad for, tomorrow, three OU graduates who live across the way will be moving out and onto better places. Two just across town, and the other one (the book club member I mentioned before) far north across the Red River. But, the self-appointed book club president could not dwell on such things at that moment because she woke up an hour late and had to get ready for work. Once again Paul the little dog had pooped on the floor and she had to clean it up before she left for her commute up north. She decided when she left to leave the little guy out that morning. He doesn't realize that his crated fate will be determined by in his behavior this morning.

Currently the self-appointed book club president is sitting at her desk in Addison. She is reflecting on all of the wonderful memories that she has made over the past three years at the Gables with Green, Strueber, Smith, Hoge, Neal, Cox and Stutts. "Man, I am getting old," she thinks as she lets out a very long sigh. But, the self-appointed president knows that friends like these last forever, and that she is so very happy to be in this place in her life right now. Unlike Esther Greenwood all of her female peers are able to pursue their dreams with gusto and realize that the future, while uncertain, is not something to be afraid of but something to embrace. So Mary, when you go back to Oklahoma and you find your dream job, please remember, there are a whole lot of people back here in Dallas wishing you well and wishing, and hoping, that you will visit us at least once a month. You will be missed more than you will ever know.