Helen Dotson’s Reviews > The Road to Character > Status Update

Definitely finishing this book in Tennessee today on our drive home. It has been a long read for me. In all honesty my recent heavy forays into pure fiction have been much more enjoyable lately, like finishing Nine Perfect Strangers last Weds while we were on our long drive together to GA for Thanksgiving at my brother’s house. Still, happy for insights & stretches to my thinking this book gave me on sabbatical.

I’m working my way through the final chapter called The Big Me as we work our way back home to Decatur through Tennessee from our Thanksgiving visit to my brother Josh’s house in Cumming, GA. We had a totally lovely visit. It has been special to travel together in Darth Van as a whole family with Larry, Alli, Ethan, Justin, and my Mom on this trip, which I’ve been looking forward to since August.

I finished reading Chapter 9 this evening while relaxing & warming up by the fire in our kitchen. I worked in our yard raking & bagging leaves for most of the afternoon & am spent. It was a high of 47 so I bundled up pretty well, working hard to set a new personal best of 7 bags filled. 21 are now sitting at the curb. Lots of Self-Examination today & I’m a hard critic, still glad for some insights from this today.

Started this again with hopes to finish soon as I’m in the 2nd to last chapter about Samuel Johnson, Self-Examination. This book is certainly a heavier read requiring more concentration & prompting deeper thinking. Larry built a lovely fire in our blue wood stove in the kitchen & I’m enjoying the cozy sanctuary overlooking Lake Decatur. This page really spoke to how I’m feeling: “dizziness of freedom”.

Working hard to finish this & nearing the end with only 2 chapters to go, so how can I not? Finally finished Chapter 8 - Ordered Love - about Augustine. I had to consume this chapter across sessions, it was too much. Interestingly, a few pages into today, he literally refers to Trump when talking about bloated pride, so perhaps it was meant for me to read that now; in contrast to proud people with low self-esteem.

Finished Chapter 7 - Love - about the famous author George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) this morning and afternoon. Larry’s procedure went well this morning - all good news! The weather has gotten a lot cooler in Decatur, and we started the furnace when we returned home. Relaxing today after not much sleep last night and thankful for our special time together.

Finished Chapter 6 - Dignity - this windy Sunday afternoon at home on Lake Decatur after a walk and coffee this morning with my friend Merijha. This chapter was about A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin who were both black civil rights activists. Larry, Buzz, Stitch and I are happy to be inside watching the wind churn up the lake on this sunny day, getting ready for Larry’s birthday bash next Saturday.

Finished Chapter 5 - Self-Mastery - about George Marshall this fine Saturday in Decatur at our 36 ORD lake house after a lovely breakfast of eggs on Hawaiian bagels with Larry here in the kitchen at our island. Gorgeous day & we will be meeting up with Wayne to go kayaking at 230 pm. I’m feeling good without too much after effect from my 2 vaccines. This book is good & a lot to digest 1 chapter at a time per day.

Finished Chapter 4 - Struggle - this afternoon on our cozy brown couch with Stitch nestled in my lap. This was about Dorothy Day, a Catholic social worker. Not sure I ever heard of her before. One thought of this chapter that stuck with me was that suffering can lead us to inspecting the “basement of our soul”. I enjoyed going to Springfield with Larry earlier for breakfast at Le Peep before Toastmasters.

Finished Chapter 3 - Self-Conquest - this afternoon after a trip to the lab & library. This one was about our past President Dwight Eisenhower and his mother Ida Eisenhower. Larry and I enjoyed our quiet day at home on Lake Decatur with Buzz & Stitch, as he is resting after his flu & Covid-19 vaccines. First day home together in at least a month with all our heavy travels and his time in September in Spring Lake.