Listening in the Mini Van: Jill on Staying Connected

English major here too. I have to say that my book group helps stimulate the intellectual side too. We just finished Salman Rushdie’s Shalimar the Clown. It challenged me in many ways, but I finished it. I almost enjoy the preparation for the discussion as much as the actual discussion. I prepare pages of notes, sometimes read adjunct text or essays, look for author interviews. I love to spread out in the town library for an hour and research something more interesting than painting contractors.

I also fantasize about taking continuing ed classes. Either that, or get my master’s in something fascinating. I just can’t figure out what to study, or how to fund it.

And I listed to NPR, even with chatting toddlers and fighting eight-year-olds in the back of the mini van. Confession: sometimes I even call into the shows.

This piece originally appeared as a comment on Revolutionary Road.