Book Group in Utah

 I feel so flattered and warmed by friends' responses. I'm not sure what I expected, but I did not intend this additional feeling of awkwardness. A dear friend who lives in Utah asked her book club if they wanted to read this book; they did. I asked her to please let me know how the book group went.

My friend wrote, "Our book group last night went great!! They loved your book and loved hearing my personal stories of how amazing you are.  They loved the short vignette chapters of your book because it made it so they could read it in smaller pieces around their schedules.  They think you are an amazing warrior who sees something that needs to be done and does it, rather than just thinking that it's always been this way so it won't change, or waiting for someone else to lead the way.  They mentioned several quotes they liked. I don't remember them all, but one was near the end of the book where you said something about allowing people to change and not be the person they were many years ago -- or something like that.  I can't find the quote right now, but that was the general idea.  Anyway, we enjoyed reading and discussing your book and I enjoyed my trip around memory lane.  Thanks for all you have done for me and my family. Have a wonderful day!" 

I feel so uncomfortable with "how amazing you are."  I'm embarrassed by this; I intended to display humility in the book. I intended to mean that so many people in teaching do the kinds of things I documented in this book.  I intended to write that I really had little idea of what I was doing -- thus the "Backward" and "Blind" part of the title. 

But I'm thankful and touched.  I intended the read to be accessible to busy people through the structure of short vignettes, and I'm pleased that's what these people reported.   I intended them to read and understand that we all are in the process of becoming better people, that "people are allowed to grow up."