ALAMANCE READS KICKOFF

I presented my “Blue and the Miracle of Hickory” program at the Paramount Theater in Burlington last night. So after months of hard work by the Friends of the Library, Alamance Reads is officially launched.

The crowd was warm and welcoming and truly affirming.

I loved how one lady came to me and pointed out one line that she really appreciated from Blue. There is something so concrete about that kind of affirmation.

Dr. Millie Hancock was a pediatrician in Hickory for many years.

I met Heather who was responsible for recommending Blue to the selection committee and I discovered that she first heard me speak in Hickory when I shared a workshop with the amazingly funny Judith Shachner. I kind of thought I bombed that day. But maybe not...

Ann Hobgood showed me a list of items from Blue (actually EVERY item in the book) which she is turning into a sculpture. Let me rephrase that. On Saturday (January 24) at the Graham Public Library she will work with ages 5 and up who drop in between 10:00 and 4:30 to help create this sculpture. She told me she had a screen door for this purpose on the back of her car right that very minute. I glanced at the list which contained everything from Bobby’s drawings to a wagon to a wheelchair. I wonder if a Johnny house is on the list…

The sculpture will be on display throughout the month long Alamance Reads program and I will see it at the finale on February 28th.

Just a few of the Friends of the Library.

We’ll be eating blackberry cobbler and ice-cream at the finale. Yum, yum! And speaking of yum, Margaret Blanchard, co-chair of the committee gave me a Victory Garden cookbook compiled by Sandra Otos. There’s a cooking contest on the program too.

And a panel discussion by former polio patients. Also, a panel of emergency experts will explore community preparedness for a widespread emergency. There will be a coloring contest, home movies from the Miracle of Hickory, and oh, well, for a complete list of events, click here!

I feel so overwhelmed when I realize what is going on in Alamance County this month. So many people will be exploring a variety of themes that grow out of Blue. I can’t say a big enough THANK YOU to the wonderful committee and all the Friends of the Library in Alamance County.

Here's a little slide show compliments of Margaret Blanchard, Co-chair of the Alamance Reads committee.



AR Kick off event, 01/22/09