One day in 1996, I received an unexpected contribution.

Last year, Laura Cordek, Kris and Jim's mother surprised me with some recommendations after reading some of these pages that included contributions from both of our children (to wit: Kris and Jim). Well, Laurie's mother, Henriette Klingel Johnsen, has now written as well.

Keeping in touch with my former mother-in-law does not seem all that strange to me, though I know it does to others. But, after all there are a couple of pretty special young people linking us. The connection was strengthened last year when Nancy and I and Kris bought Sidetrack, from Henny Johnsen.

Sidetrack is a small, beautiful lake cabin near Amery, Wisconsin. Henny and the late Jim Klingel, Kris and Jim's grandfather, bought and named Sidetrack over 25 years ago. Many times Kris, Jim, and I "borrowed" it for long weekends in October (allowed us by school calendars that gave us days off for teachers' union meetings).

I would never have dreamed that I would someday think of it as mine (and have to learn how to fix the leaky toilet and re-roof the garage). But here I sit on October 17, 1996 at Sidetrack with David and Nancy awaiting Kris' arrival tomorrow. Sadly, Jim won't get here because of his new job. Maybe next year.

So, I get to introduce my ex-mother-in-law who, in her contribution, is, as usual overly modest. She won't say anything about her poetry, perceptiveness, volunteer work and how she, like her mother before her, is a center of gravity for a large extended family that includes at least her own four children, their spouses and eleven grandchildren. Any number of other people, including many of her contemporaries, see her as a focus as well--like the group that will gather for the twenty-somethingnd time at Sidetrack next May.

I think you can guess from her reading favorites that she's a remarkable and interesting woman. She wrote:

"I presume it is time I earn my subscription to this worthy publication. As the former owner of Sidetrack, the cabin, I have received some courtesy copies and enjoyed them. No way can I sound like an intellectual reader but, as a female past seventy years, I know what I like!

"When I am pensive or philosophical, I find May Sarton good company. She was a prolific writer but my favorites are Selected Poems, Kinds of Love, a novel, and Plant Dreaming Deep.

"Barbara Kingsolver's stories and essays, mostly about the Southwest, are fun to read. She has a poet's love affair with the wonders of the natural world and her fellow human beings. Nice easy reading. [An interview with Barbara Kingsolver by David Gergen]

"My best wishes, always, Henny K.J."

The mere mention of May Sarton makes me want to go back and read some of her books again. I read several of them in the days before I was writing about my reading. Kinds of Love was one of the most wonderful. Thank you, Henny, for the recommendation and the reminder.