Joy Carol is an author, speaker, counselor, and spiritual director, who leads retreats and workshops across the country on a variety of topics. Among her accomplishments she is the Founder of the Union Center for Women and co-author of the official report on the United Nations’ Decade for Women. She was an international consultant on women and development for the Ford Foundation, Save the Children, the UN, and other international organizations. The Scottsbluff Public Library has the good fortune to be hosting her as she celebrates the publication of her new book "The Fabric of Friendship" with a book signing and discussion at the Scottsbluff Public Library this Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.

All of the above accomplishments are enough to encourage your attendance at this presentation, but let me give you a few more reasons. Joy Carol is a joy! Needless to say she is intelligent and a wonderful writer. She is also enthusiastic, inspirational, energetic and funny and has a tremendous laugh. A presentation by Joy is an experience to be savored for years afterwards. The library had the wonderful luck to host Joy two years ago, and those in attendance still remark upon her inspirational presentation.

The book, which Joy will be introducing at the library, is "The Fabric of Friendship: Celebrating the Joys, Mending the Tears in Women’s Relationships". Before I read this book, I thought I might buy another copy for my daughter. Since reading it, I now think I will need to buy multiple copies for my sisters, daughter-in-law, and other women friends. (I could go broke on this program!)

Let me share parts of three chapters that resonated with me. The first is Chapter 2 "Our Mother: Our First Friend". My mother died when she was 54, younger than I am now. Over the years, I have related to some of my female friends as almost surrogate mothers, seeming to look for the tenderness of mother-love. Joy’s book gave me confirmation for this yearning but also an acceptance that this longing was a natural reaction. The chapter on motherhood also contains a tender recounting of Joy’s last visit with her mother. I hope Joy will share that special experience this afternoon.

Joy’s chapter on "Sisters: Our Partners in Friendship" gave me more understanding of my relationships with my sisters. It should come as no surprise when I say that sisters do not always get along. My sisters and I certainly don’t. One minute, we could die for one another. The next, we could kill one another. What a tumultuous relationship is that of sisters! My one sister, who shall remain nameless, walks into my house and immediately starts bossing me and telling me how to arrange my house and my life. (I am the oldest. Doesn’t she understand anything about birth order?) The other sister would never be so assertive, but I wish she could. Although we are totally different as individuals, our family bond permanently connects us "in some inexplicable way". Joy suggests that sisters examine their early experiences to better understand their relationships. Sisters (or brothers) are "the only people on this planet who share the same genes, home, relatives, and family friends, and who really understand what it was like to have been raised by our parents." I am definitely buying this book for my sisters, and then we will have a "sister’s weekend" to better understand and accept each other.

Another chapter that struck home was the chapter on working with women—after all I work at a library. (We do have a token man on the staff.) By examining our female relationships at work, women can be better prepared to face the many "issues" that arise and arrive at healthy solutions. (Maybe I will buy this book for every woman on my staff. Now do you see what I mean about this being an expensive program?)

Men--don’t be afraid to come to this program. Joy is versatile and can adapt her presentation to your interests as well. Remember she is also funny and has that great laugh. Besides, after hearing her, you may begin to understand the women in your lives. Now, wouldn’t that be something!

If you are not otherwise occupied at 3:00 this Sunday afternoon, walk, run, ride or fly to the Scottsbluff Public Library for a presentation by author Joy Carol. You won’t be disappointed.

Following her presentation, copies of "The Fabric of Friendship" will be available for sale at $15.95 each or $15.00 for multiple copies. Joy will be autographing them. Proceeds from the sale of the books will go to the Scottsbluff Public Library Foundation—Building Fund.

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