Dear WinkWorld Readers,
Tucson Festival of Books, 2025: 1o0,000 of my best friends, and more books than I will ever be able to read. Readers and writers in every direction. Families reading together. Children running and squealing with glee. What is not to love?! The photo below from a previous year gives you and idea of what it looks like.
A Celebration of Literacy
Every year all of these readers, writers, and families suddenly show up on the grass in the middle of University of Arizona (known as the mall) campus to celebrate literacy.
So many books, but I will choose two to highlight
Octavia Butler: Time to reread her prophetic words.
Banned Books: Trying to read as many as possible.
A highlight of my visit to Tucson: Dr. Adelberto Guerrero
We went for a great walk in a shopping mall with my favorite professor ever, Dr. Guerrero (a.k.a., Beto), who had never met Dawn, nor heard her native-like Spanish. He is now 95-years-old. Below I am posting a photo of Beto, his friend, Mary, and me on our walk. To the right of that is a pix of Dawn, Dr. Guerrero, and Dr. Macario Saldate chatting in Spanish with Dawn.
Previously, I had written about Profe Beto being my all-time favorite teacher.
Always a highlight of our time in Tucson: Mary Ann, my friend
Mary Ann and I met each other in 1975. Wink, kids, and I were in Tucson on a very hot day and decided to go find a church. We got lost looking for the one I had considered, but found another, Rincon Congregational, U.C.C. Mary Ann and her three daughters, whom we had never met, greeted us at the door. Bo, age 4, ran off to a Sunday school class with Mary Ann’s, youngest, Wendy and Amy, age 4. Our Dawn Elizabeth, age 7, ran off to another classroom with Mary Ann’s Dawn Elizabeth, age 7. We have all been fast friends since that day. In addition, we all still attend that same church, when we are here.
We walked miles in the mornings. Here we found tiles on a wall which had images representing various chapters in Don Quijote.
We visited our favorite neighborhood library.
We visited another favorite spot on the University of AZ campus, Women’s Plaza of Honor.
Best of all, we walked Sabino Canyon. A year ago, I could not even dream of ever being able to walk this canyon again. We went almost 4 miles up hill and down hill without trouble. It was so affirming of my consistent exercises for the past year. Here we are taking a little break, after a particularly steep incline.
Previous Tucson Festival of Books can be found in WinkWorld: Just use the Search button over on the left of joanwink.com
In addition YouTube has various videos from the 2025 Festival.
at 10:39 am
Good morning Joan, Always a thoughtful, enjoyable few minutes to get to follow you around. I especially like the views across the South Dakota prairie. I think I told you at one time that I grew up in Nebraska. Born in Norfolk, reared in Lincoln, attended UNL when it was NU. And almost 50 years later sent my youngest son, Dylan, to Nebraska too. He had dreams of being a Husker defensive end (long story there). As it turned out he graduated in 2014 and came home to New York for about four months and then returned to Lincoln because that’s where his girl friend lived. They got married during the pandemic and they now live in Orchard, Nebraska. Check it out. I don’t recall exactly where you are when you are in SD, but in prairie terms you are just up the road from them. I hope you are doing well. Thanks for keeping me on your list. Richard
at 8:49 pm
Yes, Richard, I remember that we share these prairie roots. I will check out Orchard. Thanks. Hugs.
at 12:22 pm
Hi Joan. I just love reading your posts including your latest adventures. I’m so impressed that you hike Sabino Canyon up into the canyon and then down. Go you!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ONE AMAZING WOMAN AND MY DEAR CASCABEL FRIEND.
at 8:47 pm
Love you right back, dear friend. xoxoox
at 12:28 pm
Dearest Birthday to you Joan!
I love seeing your pictures and getting the opportunity to see what you are up to. Your friends, family, and contributions to this world. Priceless🥰
XOXOXO
at 12:31 pm
Oh, Joan! This posting brought such JOY to my morning! I especially loved the photos of you and Mary Ann. What a beautiful friendship! And then, the one of you sharing the the Don Quijote tiles (we introduced you to) with her–connecting our friendship with her too! That’s what you do so well–connecting us all together!
Much love, Sharon and Brian
at 8:46 pm
So wonderful to see the two of you this year. And, my fabulous water bottle is traveling across the country! Thank you. xoxo
at 1:09 pm
Happy, Happy Birthday. Joan,
I’m so happy to see you doing so well!
at 8:45 pm
Thank you, Carol! xo
at 2:10 pm
I am smiling out loud. Can you hear me? 🙂 And I am wishing you a very Happy Birthday, too!
at 8:45 pm
I always smile out loud when I hear from you. xo
at 4:00 pm
I have always wanted to attend the Tucson Book Festival – hopefully one day.
Happy birthday, dear Joan. ❤️
at 8:44 pm
I so hope that our shared birthday was great for you, too! Love.
at 5:31 pm
Happy Birthday to one of my best friends in the world! What a special way to spend your birthday!! Your card is coming, but I’m sorry it’s late. My arm surgery has thrown me for a loop!!! Love, Janet ♥️
at 8:43 pm
Thank you, Janet! I hope you are healing. I now it will take longer than you want. Love you!