Friday, October 23, 2020

Book Review: "Love, Life, and Lucille: Lessons Learned from a Centenarian" by Judy Gaman

Love, Life, and Lucille is a heartwarming story of an extraordinary friendship that feels like a hug in book form.

We never know when our life is going to change. For Judy Gaman, one of those times was when she met Lucille. Judy was looking to talk with centenarians for a book she was writing about aging gracefully, and while she worried what to expect from a 100-year-old woman, Lucille blew every expectation out of the water.

That meeting sparked an incredible relationship. Buoyed by Lucille’s infectious spirit, her unflagging energy, and an enormous capacity for love, the two would at least see each other every Friday, where they would share a love of food at some of Texas’ most notable restaurants, a love of family and faith, and mutual stories of overcoming adversity and heartache.

But while you would think that Lucille would benefit from the attention being paid her by a woman in her 40s, Judy benefited equally, if not more. Lucille held her up in moments of professional and personal vulnerability, sharing advice, humor, and most importantly, love.

For nearly four years, the two had an immense adventure together, taking them from wig shopping and television interviews to Texas Rangers’ stadium. Reading about this friendship was so inspiring, and definitely made me think about how we connect with others in our lives, the things we should say and don’t.

This was such a wonderful, poignant book, and we are so lucky that Judy was willing to share her memories of such an amazing woman. It honestly reminded me of some lyrics from the song "No Time At All," from the musical Pippin:

Here is a secret I never have told
Maybe you'll understand why
I believe if I refuse to grow old
I can stay young 'til I die

I was fortunate to be part of the blog tour for this book. Kate Rock Book Tours and Judy Gaman provided me a complimentary (and signed!) copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!

May we all find a Lucille in our lives, and be for them what Judy was for her.

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