Joan, Margie, Sheri, Paige, Mary Lib, Libby, Saran joined the 27 April discussion of Ladybird, Collected, still relying on Zoom.
We often read books by accomplished and recognized authors, beginning our discussions with a summary of the author’s books, prizes, interviews, or videos. Meg Heriford has no previous books or recognition; she is an ordinary – but an extraordinary - hard-working person. This is a book of short essays detailing the origins of the Ladybird diner, but it is really a book about her. It is a book about relationships and about the remarkable woman at their core.
We were all charmed by Heriford but know too little about her to explain why. What is amazing about her is at once easy and hard to articulate. The easily identified characteristics are
She creates communities within communities, and fosters these communities actively
She embraces the idea that small actions can have powerful impacts, reflecting on the influence of her mother on her life
She readily detects melt-downs in her employees and responds with empathy, providing $20 and 20 minutes to absorb the serenity of the neighboring bookstore
She sees people for who they are, not who she or society wants them to be
She thus accepts people without judgement.
She has an enormous respect for life – an outright enjoyment of life for all of its warts and difficulties
She constantly provides for others and nurtures others, expecting nothing in return
She is a skillful writer, expressive with words, artful with revealing metaphors, and clever with her allegory of making a pie – the hours and the care and the steps involved
She is able to appreciate each moment.
These are the few characteristics we highlighted. Somewhere in these fits her uncanny knowledge of her own limits and her own ego.
Harder to understand is how she gained these skills. She includes little about her childhood, though what she does include is informative. Paige noted that people who have studied Zen Buddhism for years strive for these skills and talents, but many don’t achieve them. Most of us spend an entire lifetime striving to learn how not to judge, how to see people for themselves, how to nurture others.
Heriford’s writing is straightforward and honest, while expressive and evocative. She is honest and open about her strengths and weaknesses (her ‘limited skill set’) and fully aware of her mistakes and shortcomings. Her writing conveys a person uncommonly aware and accepting of who she is. This awareness likely lies behind (in part at least) her ability to see others as they are. She does not look to others for a reinforcement of herself; she welcomes the world not as a reflection of who she is, or what she does or does not do well. Is it because she seems to accept herself that she can openly accept others, finding something new, refreshing, and engaging in the world around her? We all loved the book, recognizing that we will return to it often, re-read it often, use it for pure enjoyment, solace, and maybe even guidance. And we ended our discussion as Heriford began her book: with pies.
