A little gift and a little thanks go a long way in the times apart for our book club.

George Johnson, a member of our book club at The Soldier's Home, Washington, DC, and a character in my book, "Remembering With The Heart, Stories by America's Finest," is an avid reader and has opened so many windows of learning for all fifteen of us that participate in our weekly literary discussions.  As our book club looks forward to reuniting in person, we will continue on our same trajectory of reading our books together, and sharing our thoughts via email, texting, and even with phone conversations.  Recently, I delivered gift bags to my book club members.  George Johnson shared his sentiments that I would very much like to share with you: 

Book Club Treats

Books, tasty treats, and summer fun were delivered to the 14 members of my Book Club who reside at The Armed Forces Retirement Home, Washington, D.C. on Friday, July 10. My dear friend, Christine Baldwin, librarian at AFRH and book club member met me at the front gate with open arms and her wagon for transporting my gifts to these wonderful pals of mine. On March 1, due to COVID-19 the veterans that reside at The Armed Forces Home were quarantined. Since then, we have not been able to attend our weekly book club meetings; HOWEVER, through emails, phone calls, and letter writing, our "mighty literary group" has continued to read 7 books together. As we look forward to selecting our next round of interesting books to read together, my book club members will be keeping me informed of how they are getting along and staying safe!

Most grateful,
Glenna

AFRH Book Club on “In The Hurricane's Eye” by Nathaniel Philbrick

Dear Literary Friends,

I miss each and every one of you! It seems like forever that we have sat at our "discussion table" and not only conversed about some of the most incredible works of literature but enjoyed each other's company and all that we had to learn from one another. COVID-19 has been a learning experience for the entire world, and I am guessing that in the not too distant future, our Book Club will be back in order and at some point (to our liking) we will be reading a book together about this very topic.

OBX getaway!

For the past twelve years, our goodly friends,  Ann and Larry Sharp have welcomed our family to their beautiful home in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.   Each and every year brings about its own "memory maker," and this one was no different.  Grandson, Charlie, my husband Bob, our son Ryan, and his wife Stephanie relied on "Mother Nature," and the love of family for our entertainment..a truly wonderful week!

REACHING OUT and Reconnecting with VFW National Home for Children.

A promise is a promise! Recently, I reconnected with Meghan Mcbride, an event coordinator at the "VFW National Home for Children," Eaton Rapids, Michigan. Meghan works tirelessly on behalf of the children and their families at the "VFW National Home."

AFRH Book Club on “Double Cross, The True Story of the D-Day Spies”

Dear Literary Pals,

Our current read, "Double Cross, The True Story of the D-Day Spies," written by Ben Macintyre, both intrigued me and baffled me. Therefore, I am choosing to write about this skillfully woven together book in one big swoop. From the very onset of Macintyre's storytelling, he sets the stage introducing his cast of characters one by one in such a way that it becomes a challenge to put aside this spellbinding account that led up to D-Day, June of 1944. It is noted in "Double Cross," that while at the Tehran Conference in November 1943, the first of the "big three" meetings bringing together Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin, Winston Churchill turned to Joseph Stalin and uttered a typically Churchillian remark that has become a sort of myth: "In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies." Stalin, who had little time for metaphor, replied: "This is what we call military cunning." The D-Day invasion would be protected and supported by a comprehensive, worldwide deception campaign, a body of lies to shield the truth. It was code-named "Bodyguard." And, the pivotal element in the deception of Operation Bodyguard was named "Fortitude." It is Operation Fortitude that author Ben Macintyre reveals in his gripping narrative, "Double Cross."