Happy Hanni-kah

Today was the very first time I’ve given a children’s book presentation in a bookstore while enjoying a glass of wine.
The Book Cellar lives up to its name. Get it? Book CELLAR? They sell books, and they sell wine.
It’s my kind of store.
And the crowd was my kind of crowd: co-workers, students from the senior citizen writing class I teach, friends who have known me a long time and new friends who just learned about my children’s book. Best of all, my entire book club showed up.
When Mike, Hanni and I moved to Chicago in 2003, my college friend Nancy invited me to join her Sunday morning book group – they meet at different houses on the northside of Chicago. I was eager to meet new people and welcomed the invite. After a few meetings, I made a formal announcement. I told them all how much I appreciated them welcoming me to the group. “You are just my type,” I said. “You’re all such fun, you put out such lavish spreads of food, you meet on Sundays, and none of you go to church!”
The room got very quiet. You didn’t have to be able to see to know they were staring at me, open-jawed.
Suddenly they all exploded with laughter. “Beth!” one of my new friends finally explained. “Don’t you know? We’re all Jewish!”
I had no idea.
I’ve been attending Jewish Book Group ever since, and have learned as much from my fellow book club members as I have from the books we read.
An example: Today they reminded me that Hanukah starts Tuesday.
So when I signed – and rubber-stamped Hanni’s paw print — onto books for their nieces and nephews, I also wrote out a special wish from my dog: Happy Hanni-kah!”