I'm not sure why Diana and I have been able to maintain such a strong connection. She is a very loyal person, a very moral person, who has had a lot of influence over me. Despite seeming quiet, she is also very adventurous. We back-packed across Europe together after college and have been on other adventures. Distance has not had a negative impact on us over the years, so I now feel that Diana is the most constant adult in my life outside of my parents.
My only sibling is a younger brother, and several years separate Diana from her older siblings. Perhaps we are so close because we became sisters to each other.
The relationships between all the women from Ames ebb and flow, often impacted by proximity and life experiences. A few women in the group have connected more closely and then shifted after a few years as circumstances changed. This acceptance of flexibility ... this breathing room...has allowed us to grow and expand and still come back together without ever feeling a rift.
I've included a "mug" shots of myself.
Kelly's hat: "Tough Enough To Wear Pink"
The hat I have on was sent to me by Karla just after I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It's a Wrangler hat that says: Tough Enough to Wear Pink. Karla's daughter, Jackie, also knit me a very soft hat to wear at night to keep my head warm. She knew from her sister Christie's experience that my bald head would get cold. The women from Ames showered me with very thoughtful, loving gifts that sustained me during my treatment. Flowers from them arrived before each chemo appointment, and there were many other items that made my treatment in 2007-2008 more tolerable.
Karla, were you one of those who had boxes of memorabilia stored away from those years?
Karla: Yes, I had lots of memorabilia to share with Jeff for the book. Mine was in the form of scrapbooks and pictures, as I didn't keep a diary.
During the year he was interviewing us for the book, Jeff always had his tape recorder going, or had his pad and pen ready to record our stories and conversations. While we were all in North Carolina that year, we went hiking one afternoon. I remember getting into an interesting conversation with Jane and Marilyn, and all of a sudden, he was there, quickly catching up with us on the trail, furiously taking shorthand about our conversation while running along beside us. It was often like that during the project. You had to be careful about what you said, as it could possibly end up in print!
Having a best seller written about us has been pretty exciting and certainly not something we expected to happen in our lives.
What was it like for you to read Jeff's rendition of your friendship, your history, and what's going on now? Were there any surprises or did he see you as you see yourselves?
Karla: We weren't sure how he was going to pull all the information together from the letters, notes, and diaries from our youth, as well as current interviews with of all ten of us. He had hours of taped conversations that couldn't have made much sense to him at times, as we would roar with laughter, sometimes not even finishing a thought, but he somehow pulled it all together, and wrote a great book that we are all proud of.
Kelly: It was as if Jeff took a highlighter and emphasized some of the more dramatic moments of my life. His portrayal of my life is accurate; it's just that the book doesn't allow for coverage of all the events.
I'm portrayed as an "outspoken" woman in the book, but at various times throughout our lives any of these "girls" from Ames have been strong, outspoken women. All of them are willing to speak out on issues that are important to them. It's nice to know that no matter what the issue, this group of friends with their vast array of opinions will support each other.
When I read the manuscript for The Girls from Ames, I learned things about my friends that I did not know. I've heard from people in book groups across the nation that the book prompts them to talk about events in their lives that their friends might not have been aware of. I feel as though the book helps readers celebrate and appreciate more fully the friendship experiences in their lives that perhaps they took for granted.
