Additionally, it would be great if everyone could bring a bit of fruit to share, and maybe a few dollars, in case one runs into someone desperately poor.
Bananas are great, as I believe them to be the only known cure for existential dread. Also, Mother Teresa said that in India, a woman dying in the street will share her banana with anyone who needs it, whereas in America, people amass and horde as many bananas as they can to sell for an exorbitant profit. So half of them go bad, anyway.
Maybe, come to think of it, that wasn't Mother Teresa. Maybe that was Ram Dass, or my neighbor Irmgaard, but it doesn't matter. Trust me: Fruit is a nice touch. Apples, oranges, it doesn't matter, and it would not be mandatory that you bring any fruit at all.
All we would ask is that you show up and help us foment a revolution, based on kindness and that silly old idea our parents taught us, about fairness. Maybe we'd sing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee." No offense in that, really, is there?
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Anne Lamott calls for a revolution based on kindness, libraries, and fruit. Here's a taste:
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7 comments:
Any words on kindness from Anne Lamott should be taken with a bucket or perhaps a ton of salt. She's got to be the unkindest and most self centered teacher I've ever seen. It's not a bad idea she's proposing, just incredibly ironic.
Hi Susan!
I've heard this from other people, as well. It makes me very sad--her writing is so filled with compassion and humor; it seems as if she'd be an excellent teacher. I'm sorry that you and others have experienced the disconnect between her writing self and her teaching self--it must have been a real shock...
xo
gayle
For what it's worth, I had her as a teacher, and I really enjoyed her. But to each her own.
I'm planning on going to Golden Gate Park and eating peaches on the 14th.
I'm glad you had a good experience with her, Jennifer! And I'm glad you'll be at Golden Gate Park eating peaches on the 14th. I wish I could be there, too.
One thing I love about Anne Lamott's writing is how human it is, so it doesn't surprise me that different people have had different experiences with her at different times. I'm sure it's the same for all teachers. We human beings are so complicated, so full of contradictions. I know I don't always live up to the ideals I try to body forth in my writing, and I imagine that could be disillusioning for some of my students. All we can do is try to be human, try to share as much kindness as we can. And eat fruit!
Oh, yes, eat lots of fruit. And sneak in some chocolate!
Gayle, you might know this: When is Barbara Kingsolver going to announce the new Bellweather book? It's like she and that prize has disappeared from the face of the earth.
I wish I had some Bellwether news for you, Jennifer, but I'm not sure what's happening right now. When I got the good news, it was in March or April, so the announcement could be any time soon. I found out about my finalist status that January, but I'm not sure if that's how they're doing things this year. Did you submit something? If so, good luck! While you're waiting, definitely check out Correcting the Landscape by Marjorie Kowalski Cole, the latest Bellwether release...
Nope--I'm hoping to next time.
Just being nosy..
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