U.S. G.I.R.L.S. and guests were awakened this morning with sounds of torrential rains and thunderstorms. We were sure the day was going to be gloomy for our road trip to St. Augustine - But to our amazement, the sun began to "peek" through the clouds during our travels and we were grateful to see a "Chamber of Commerce" day emerge.
Jackie selected the iconic O.C. White's for our meeting to discuss Nina Gilbeau's novel, "God Doesn't Love Us All The Same"; and the venue was perfect with its picturesque views of the Bridge of Lions and surrounding historical attractions and monuments.
Jackie decorated the upstairs space in a springtime theme with tulips at each place setting and a herb packet for planting, with a pot and gloves...all we need to add is soil and water. Within a few months, we will have sprouts of oregano, basil, parsley and thyme emitting therapeutic and holistic aromas.
Once the members and guests arrived, Jackie asked Sharron to offer a prayer for our meeting and our meals. Jackie had the chef prepare a special menu for U.S. G.I.R.L.S. that had something for everyone - spanning from land to sea and farm to table. Therefore, finding something we liked was not an issue and the ordering process was swift. Shortly after we ordered, author Nina Guilbeau arrived to participate in our meeting, and we were very excited.
We began the discussion with the question of God's love for us... "Is it all the same?"
Now, you would think this is a simple question, however as usual, we delve into the depths of each question with the vigor of a mathematical equation. Roz, Celeste, Valerie, Karen and Jackie all had some valid points and answers to this "age ole" question..
Could Robert Jr and Hattie have had a happy life together? The consensus was: possibly, however it may have been short lived as they would have needed to conform to society's norm at the time and that would have been very difficult for the time period, particularly with Robert Jr.'s family's social standing and legacy.
A burning question (no pun intended) was the lack of Hattie's desire to leave the burning home and succumb to the smoke and flames. JayBee took the harsh road and accused Hattie of being a selfish coward for basically committing suicide. Roz interjected that Hattie was of "ample" (fluffy) size and it may have been difficult for her to escape via the narrow windows. JayBee was quick to rebut that constructed homes during that time may have been easier to escape than realized due to the lack of synthetic materials and Hattie's "ample" assets could have assisted or aided in her escape. The long and short of it? Your child is worth the fight for survival with every fiber of your being.
It was interesting to hear all the responses to the question regarding the event that had the biggest impact on Vera's life. Celeste took it back to the beginning, the actual childhood sexual assault as the pivotal moment.
Valerie was very vocal about the monetary collegiate support that Vera provided for Marianne. Valerie was adamant that because of Marianne's disrespect, maybe Vera should have ceased. After all, Marianne was a child, and her mother was doing whatever she needed to do to survive and provide. Although she did not agree with her mother's "hustle" she was still her mother.
Author, Nina Guilbeau was obliging and offered insight into many of our inquiries about the characters. She also reiterated that as a work of fiction, the beauty is that the interpretation is driven by the reader.
After the book discussion, Jackie presented Nina with a gift bag containing
U.S. G.I.R.L.S. Signature Tote Bag, Mug, and Calendar. There was also Oprah Teavana Tea sachets and Peterbrooke's Chocolate Covered Popcorn for her to enjoy while reading or even writing her next book!
(Thank you, Nina for "Tweeting" this photo of you relaxing at home with your gifts)
Once we concluded the meeting, we gathered our canned goods from our cars and loaded in the rear of Jackie's vehicle for her to deliver to the E.S.H.C. Homeless Coalition of St. Augustine
Thank you, Jackie for the "Road Trip" to your historic home of St. Augustine to discuss Nina Guilbeau's novel, "God Doesn't Love Us All The Same", and once again bringing the National plight of homelessness to the forefront of our attention.
