‘Holy Man’ Mingles Insight With Whimsy
The holy man’s name is Joe. He lives on a mountaintop and he’s so popular that long lines of people wait days to see him.
In this line stands the impatient woman who needs to organize events and other people to feel alive. And the alcoholic who drinks for the same reason. The angry man stands in line, too, and the grandmother who wants the holy man to help her with the exasperation she feels because her grandkids don’t write thank-you notes.
All these characters live in a book called “The Holy Man” by novelist Susan Trott. It’s delightful. We picked it up at the Portland airport (great bookstore and bakery in that airport, by the way) and it was the perfect plane book. Whimsical, fun and profound, all at once. Here’s what the Holy Man told the grandmother about those non-thank-you grandchildren:
“You are suffering from an advanced case of egotism. I can tell you right now that if they each wrote you 10 pages a week you would not feel satisfied, would still feel wronged and unappreciated and probably want 20 pages. How can those children love you until you are able to love them? Selflessly. Unconditionally. Good-bye.”
Scoop
Sheryl Swoopes-Jackson, who was the scheduled speaker at the YWCA’s benefit breakfast to be held Thursday morning, had to cancel due to pregnancy complications. But a great substitute was found: Evelyn Ashford, Olympic gold-medalist.
Child Care
The Neighborhood Accountability Board program helps stop budding juvenile criminals from blooming. It’s a great program that stresses accountability and how a first-time offender’s actions (for such things as shoplifting and drinking) can harm the larger community. If you are interested in volunteering on a board, contact Susan Cairy, 458-2469.
Some fun facts
We musn’t forget that women have come a long way, baby. The U.S. Census sent out some cool reminders in honor of Women’s History Month, celebrated in March. Here’s some encouraging news about the progress of women:
Women accounted for 55 percent of all college students in 1994.
The number of women lawyers increased from 15 percent in 1983 to 26 percent in 1995. Women doctors increased from 16 percent to 24 percent in that same time period.
Women make up a growing share of the older labor force (55 years and over), growing from 23 percent in 1950 to 44 percent in 1993.
In 1995, women’s life expectancy was 79 years versus 73 years for men. And, finally, we don’t know if this is good news or not: Projections show that life expectancy for women in 2010 will be 81 years versus 74 years for men.
So we’ll end with this question: How old do you want to live to be? And do you think it is a sad fact, or a fact to be celebrated, that women live longer than men? We’d love your thoughts.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Drawing
MEMO: Common Ground is written on alternating weeks by Rebecca Nappi and Dan Webster. Write to them in care of The Spokesman-Review, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615. Or fax, (509) 459-5098.