Founding book club member, 90, turns a page
Thursday, April 19, 2012
WENATCHEE — On the day before her 90th birthday, Ruth Gardner sat with her book club and described the day she learned about, ahem, the facts of life. The book lovers were all ears.
“I was sitting on a bench reading a sex education book for kids, about how the male part went into the female part, and I was absolutely shocked,” she said, twinkle in her eye, in answer to a series of cheeky birthday questions posed by book club members.
“I knew about male anatomy — after all, I took care of my little brothers and bathed them all the time — but this new information about what fit where completely floored me,” she laughed. “I thought, ‘No way, not happening.’ Of course, I hadn’t considered the whole thing about marriage.”
About eight decades later — not to mention six kids, 17 grandkids and 15 great-grandkids — Gardner is still learning about the world through books. But not much shocks her anymore.
“You get to be my age, and it takes more than a little to give me a surprise,” she said.
But she was a bit wide-eyed Wednesday when the other 24 members of the Wenatchee Public Library’s Brown Bag Book Club unveiled a surprise 90th birthday party. It came (one day early) complete with member Dana Schmidt’s upside-down cake, Golden Delicious apples from member Nick Davis’ orchard and glasses of sparkling pomegranate juice.
“I should have guessed this bunch would have something up their sleeves,” joked Gardner, a founding member of the club.
Over the last decade, Brown Bag has matured into the largest and one of the oldest of 315 book clubs at the 28 branches of the North Central Regional Library system, said Paula Walters, book club coordinator for NCRL.
Clubs choose from the library’s growing list of over 1,000 titles — classics, bestsellers, fiction, nonfiction, kids books — for which NCRL has bought multiple copies to feed the discussion groups’ ravenous reading habits.
In September, Brown Bag will celebrate a decade of book discussion — one book a month, 120 titles in all and a zillion snappy comments on reading, writing and life in general.
“I’ve been reading good books all my life and won’t quit now,” said Gardner, a copy of this month’s discussion title — “Half Broke Horses” by Jeannette Walls — sitting next to the 90-year-old’s slice of birthday cake. “Reading’s been one of my life’s great pleasures.”
Born in Chicago, Gardner lived in various places before marrying and moving with her husband to the Wenatchee Valley in 1966. Raising kids, they lived in Leavenworth, Wenatchee and East Wenatchee before settling in Malaga, where Gardner lived for 32 years. She now lives at Hearthstone Cottage, a retirement home in East Wenatchee.
At age 56, with most of her kids grown and gone, Gardner fulfilled a lifelong dream to become a registered nurse. Completing courses at Wenatchee Valley College and other schools, she dived into a 20-year career at a convalescent home in Cashmere.
In 1983 and 1984, she wrote and self-published her own book, a memoir entitled “I Weep for That Which Has Been My Delight.” Her own examination of her life and writing of the book was triggered by the death of her son, Capt. Gregory Gardner, a military surgeon, in an airplane crash in 1981.
“Ruth’s a treasure,” said Librarian Kathy Holscher. “She’s an inspiration to us all to lead full and varied lives.”
On Wednesday, Gardner — mother, reader, nurse, author — joined in the lively book-club banter over “Half Broke Horses,” the 15-year-old heroine’s frontier journey on the back of a pony and a comparison, then and now, of the stuff mothers worry about today. Like bad food and bad people.
As comments grew more animated, Gardner rose, modestly thanked everyone and excused herself. Seems she was late for another book club meeting where another title was up for discussion.
“This is one of those busy days,” smiled Gardner. “Two book club meetings — a double dose of fun in one afternoon. Sounds good to me.”
I wanted all of you to see this wonderful article that was in the Wenatchee World yesterday. If you have time go to the online site as there is a sweet picture. What a fun book club meeting. Occasionally I am invited to vist this club. What a group of wonderful people, women and men. It is our largest club twenty plus members and growing. Eight to twelve is the ideal number for a book group but I am very impressed by this group. They are all very considerate of each other and all of the members get a chance to talk and they stay on track!!
I have been busy, busy, busy reading reading reading!! Once I have "all my ducks in a row" I will be sharing some of my favorites!! Happy Spring!!


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Welcome to Fergie Time, a roundup/newsletter type deal that delivers news, opinion and links directly to your screen. As the name suggests, there will be some exaggeration, nsfw moments, canceled press conferences (oh, who are we kidding) and late, late, late scoring of points. You’ll like it, trust me.
ENGLAND VS. FRANCE, NEWCASTLE, LIVERPOOL:England were outclassed by France at Wembley on Wednesday, which has elicited the usual rants about England players lacking either a) the technique to play against foreign teams or b) the passion to wear the England shirt. Both of which are poorly defined complaints that accomplish nothing. Fergie Times one actual, tangible, teeth-grindingly annoying problem with the England game this week was the amount of whining from Premier League clubs?before and after the game.
Newcastle seemed to think Andy Carrolls groin strain was so life-threateningly bad that they asked the FA to reconsider Carrolls England debut for fear it would leave him unable to face Bolton this weekend. And Liverpools conditioning coach Darren Burgess blew a fuse after Steven Gerrard picked up an injury, screaming on Twitter that England and the FA were Completely amateurish and now we pay for their incompetence. Absolutely disgraceful.
If Newcastle and Liverpool had their way, then Englands most promising #9 would be yet to make his international debut and Englands vice-captain would be kept in bubble wrap during international weeks. You cant build a successful international team that way. You cant put club football first for 22 months and then expect England to perform like champs in international tournaments. So maybe Premier League clubs and fans could do the national team a favour and at least pretend to care about international football, even and maybe especially when its not World Cup time.
THE NEWS WE COULD LOSE:Despite what you may have read above, Englands worst enemy might not be over-protective Premier League clubs. Its lazy journalists.
Seems you can only be England manager so long before the press decide youre some sort of simpleton, and give you a rhyming nickname (see: Steve McClaren, Wally with a Brolly). It was Fabio Capellos turn this week, as someone at The Sun decided to brand the England manager the prat in a hat. Presumably they saw that Capello was wearing a hat, dug out the old England Manager Rhyming Insult Dictionary and yelled Eureka! when they found the word prat.
THE KIDS IN AMERICA:One team getting a lot less hassle from their media, and having a lot more success with their young players this week was the USA. Several youngsters made international debuts for the US away to South Africa, and 17-year-old New York Red Bulls striker Juan Agedulo became the youngest goalscorer in modern USA history when he hit an 85th minute winner.
FANTASY FOOTBALL:Week 14 of the the Soccerlens Fantasy Football Game is coming. To be in with a chance of winning the weekly prize money, just pick your XI and enter.
AWARDS:Worst teammate of the week: Has to be Nani, who ruined what would have been a beautiful Cristiano Ronaldo goal for Portugal vs. Spain. Ronaldo destroyed Spains defence with a cutback and a roll, then chipped the ball over Iker Casillas in goal. The ball was clearly going in, but Nani decided to get his head to it anyway. In an offside position. Presumably Ronaldo only resisted the urge to slap Nanis face off of his face because Portugal still beat Spain 4-0.
Best goalkeeper in Belgium: Used to be Michel Preudhomme. But now its mud:
Worst miss ever: I dont throw those words around lightly. But 18 year-old Qatar striker Fahad Khalfan was in the six yard box with the ball at his feet, with no defenders and no goalkeeper between himself and the goal. And somehow he hit the post. In extra time of an Asian Cup quarterfinal. Which Qatar went on to lose 1-0.
MATCH OF THE WEEK:Its the North London derby this Saturday: Arsenal vs Spurs at The Emirates, featuring the talents of Gareth Bale, Rafa van der Vaart, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and more. Its also William Gallas very much the backwards Sol Campbell returning to Arsenal with his new team. Im sure Arsenal fans will give him a warm welcome.
PODCAST:The 3 Up Front crew discuss Chelseas meltdown at Sunderland, Asenals title credentials, and the big question from the top of this newsletter: Club or country? Listen to episode 14 and then subscribe via iTunes for more.
FINALLY, DON’T FORGET:Fergie Time is only a small part of the Soccerlens experience. You can also follow us on Twitter, find us on Facebook, watch us on YouTube and subscribe to our RSS.
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Lassana Diarra admitted the lure of Spanish giants Real Madrid was just too great to turn down his "dream" switch.
Diarra was presented as Madrid's newest addition this afternoon after passing his medical and penning a contract that ties him to the Primera Liga champions until 2013.
The France international, who will reportedly cost his new employers in the region of 20million euros, had also been linked with Manchester City but the 23-year-old revealed he could not say no to Madrid.
"I couldn't turn down Real Madrid's offer. It's a dream that I've had since I was small and now I'm in the Spanish capital I want to give everything on the pitch," said Diarra, who will officially become a Madrid player on January 1.
"I've come here to give 100%. I'm looking forward to defending the Real Madrid colours. I have a strong personality and I want to prove my worth to my new fans."
Diarra is the third recent addition to the Madrid squad as the ailing superpower looks to overcome a crippling injury list and get their bid for a hat-trick of title successes back on track.
Over the last few months Madrid have lost Ruud van Nistelrooy, Mahamadou Diarra and Ruben de la Red to season-ending injuries, while a host of other players have been ruled out for varying periods of time - a series of setbacks that has contributed to the team ending the year 12 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.
In a bid to resolve that situation, Madrid have brought in Klaas Jan Huntelaar from Dutch outfit Ajax for a fee that could rise to 27million euros and recalled Dani Parejo from his loan spell at Queens Park Rangers in England.
Diarra is the latest player to be brought in and he is likely to take over the role of holding midfielder previously held by his namesake Mahamadou prior to injury.
However, the new Diarra does not want to be seen as either a stand-in for the Mali international or a reincarnation of former Madrid midfielder Claude Makelele, a player Diarra knows well from his time at Chelsea and who has been likened to.
"It's an honour to be compared to Makelele, but Makelele is Makelele and I am me. We have some things in common but I'm my own player. They compare me to him, but he came here when he was a little older, I'm younger," said Diarra, who was unveiled today with the name 'Lass' on the back of his Madrid shirt.
"I don't want to be called Diarra One or Diarra Two. I want to be known as Lass," he explained.
Although he is still only 23, Diarra has already played for four different clubs - starting off at Le Havre before going on to represent Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth.
Diarra did not make more than 40 senior appearances for any of the three Premier League clubs, but he insists he is ready to take the step to playing for nine-time European champions Madrid, who are now coached by former Tottenham manager Juande Ramos.
"For four or five years I have been at great clubs, such as Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as the French national team, and I'm ready to play for Real Madrid," he said.
"At Chelsea I was young and it was not easy to be able to play in a team with so many experienced players. I have matured at Portsmouth and I think I'm capable of competing."
Diarra also insisted he would be fully fit by the team the Primera Liga season re-starts following its Christmas break.
The Frenchman had been sidelined with an ankle injury but featured as a second-half substitute in Portsmouth's 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat at Bolton at the weekend.
"I was out for a month before playing last Saturday but when I return (to Madrid) I will be in prefect condition. Although the decision of whether I play or not will be up to Juande."
Portsmouth executive chairman Peter Storrie was full of praise for the contribution made by Diarra during his 11-month stay at Fratton Park
"We wish Lassana all the best for the future and thank him for his efforts here," said Storrie after selling Diarra for a club record fee.
"He said himself when he came to us that he hoped he would one day play for a massive club - and you can't get much bigger than Real Madrid.
"It's fantastic we can do business with Real Madrid, one of the greatest sides in the world. It shows how far we've come," Storrie added on his club's website.
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