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Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 9:50 PM

Book Review — Almost Everything: Notes on Hope

Book Review — Almost Everything: Notes on Hope
Almost Everything: Notes on Hope by Anne Lamott Years ago I was listening to a radio interview about a book called Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life which was very funny and insightful. So I checked the book out of the library and found the writing to be just as funny and insightful as the interview. The author was Anne Lamott and I’ve been reading her ever since. Her writing is extremely personal and sometimes I find myself just wanting to look away but I rarely do. I feel like I’ve followed her through her spiritual awakening, drug addiction, motherhood, difficult upbringing, friendships, deaths, and so much more. Rarely has writing felt so true. With Almost Everything: Notes on Hope Lamott carries on the tradition. Especially heart wrenching is her thought process for not bailing her son out of jail. And the tale of a friend who is sober for years and then is not. Mostly this is a book of hope. That you can’t solve anyone’s problems-just your own. No matter how hard you try. No matter how much you want to. And knowing that no matter how difficult life is, it will get better. In Lamott’s words, “I am stockpiling antibiotics for the apocalypse, even as I await the blooming of paperwhites on the windowsill in the kitchen.” Hope is what keeps me putting one foot in front of the other. And Lamott helps with that journey. Carol Lloyd is on the road again this week, but promises to send dispatches from the road.  

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Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I knew Sam as a member of our church growing up. He always had a warm smile, a kind word, and a great sense of humor! He will be great missed!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:57 AMComment source: Obituary -- Samuel Bruce WickizerComment author: Mike HinzComment text: Great teacher, great coach, but even a better person!!! Rest in peace Mr. BeachComment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:53 AMComment source: Obituary -- Jack Victor Beach, Jr.Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I had Mrs Hedges for First Grade at Northside Elementary in 1969. I still, to this day, remember her as a wonderful teacher…one of my favorites!!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:29 AMComment source: Obituary - Nancy Marie Hedges C Comment author: Carl C. HagenComment text: What are MFNs and PBMs ?? ............................ From the editor: This is a very good question and we apologize for not catching that wasn't in there. We reached out to the writer/submitter and got this info back...hope it's helpful. PBM: Pharmacy Benefit Managers are pharmacies that are owned by insurance companies. (CVS is one.) They negotiate with drug makers to get reduced pricing for medications, but they historically have not passed along those savings to patients. https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/pharmacy-benefit-managers-staff-report.pdf MFN: Most Favored Nation pricing is a policy that means a country agrees to offer the same trade concessions (like tariffs or price reductions) to all member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). When applied to pharmaceuticals, it could disrupt global access, deter innovation, and obscure the deeper systemic issues in American health care. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2025/05/22/the-global-risks-of-americas-most-favored-nation-drug-pricing-policy/Comment publication date: 6/23/25, 7:47 AMComment source: L E T T E R TO THE EDITOR
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