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Ahhhh…the 4th of July is just around the corner, bringing with it a wonderful and sorely needed long weekend.

My book group is embracing summer reading; we will be reading Elin Hilderbrand’s THE FIVE-STAR WEEKEND. The premise of the “Five-Star Weekend” is that a woman organizes a trip for her best friend from each phase of her life: her teenage years, her 20s, her 30s and midlife.

I have been thinking about who I would invite from each of the time frames that she mentions. I do wonder how the people from each of these phases of my life would get along. I feel that as much as I have stayed the same, I have changed a lot as well. Books always have been a part of my life, so I know that I would be tracking down my bookish friends.

Earlier this month, my book group finally headed out on a long-awaited road trip together. Two others were to join us until “life got in the way.” With me at the wheel, and at certain points all of us studying Waze directions (“Um, Carol, I think we passed the exit to the Saw Mill.” And “Carol, we passed it again.”), we headed to Bethlehem, Connecticut, to see Martha Hall Kelly speak about her work and to tour the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden.