"It's Alright If You Love Me, It's Alright If You Don't"

One of my all-time favorite bands is Arcade Fire. I love them because in a world where all music blends together, their sound sticks out. I love them because the lead singer and I grew up within two miles of each other and even attended the same middle school for a year (and damn do I wish I would have known then what I know now!!). But most of all, I love them because out of any other band they show how hard work pays off and how the thing that you're the most passionate about doesn't have to go perfectly the first time you try it. Here's why:

During their first ever show as a band, the lead singer and keyboardist got in a massive fight (which started as verbal and eventually turned physical) and the band broke up mid-set. They all walked away thinking they'd failed as a band and would never make it anywhere past that one ill-fated show. Thankfully, for fans like me, they resembled themselves and wound up better and stronger than ever before.

I'm hoping the same happens with us.

I love this book club. I love how we can all sit in a room and talk for hours and it feels like no time has passed at all. I love the enthusiasm of people who are genuinely interested in not only the literature itself, but on the fellow members in the room, meeting people you may have never met otherwise and going outside of your comfort zone. For me, it's been an opportunity to reconnect with high school besties, meet amazing new people, and read great books.

And for the most part, everyone else feels the same way. But like my favorite band with the keyboardist who just couldn't get with the program, Reading Between The Wines can't quite capture the hearts of everyone. And that's hard.

When it's your dream, it's easy to assume that it's everyone's dream and realistically, that's probably unfair. But whether this book club is wildly successful or is just a fun thing to do with friends and to meet new people, I will consider it a success. Expanding your horizons is never a waste of time, making friends is never a waste of time, and helping other people is never a waste of time. When all is said and done, not everyone will like everything and ultimately those of us who are invested in this have to write it off as their loss.

If a band can break up mid-set during their very first show and be okay, then we can too! I believe in our goals, our mission, and our members! Reading Between The Wines has a long, happy future ahead, so get on board or get out of our way!

~Abbey