A Conversation with Anna Quindlan and Alice Walker :: Biography Biographies Essays

A Conversation with Anna Quindlan and Alice Walker   It was an early Fall afternoon. The kind of afternoon which lends itself to hushed contemplation of the meaning of flavour, either magical spell sitting under a tree, or walking through the woods admiring the changing foliage, or writing by sunlight in a quiet coffeeshop I had begun to call home. This particular afternoon I opted for the coffeeshop.   I walked through the door and waved to Theresa, who was standing behind the counter. In the three years I had been advance to this place I was never served by anyone but Theresa. She knew me only as Honey. As my eyes adjusted to the light on the inside of the coffeeshop, I remote my jacket and moved to my customary spot at the table to the extreme rear, beside the windows. I sit here because, in this corner, I can be an inconspicuous observer of the world. I have a view of the street outside the window and a view of the interior of the coffeeshop from this v antage point. While on the military personnelagement to my table, I noticed something new in my second home.   There the two of them sat. One white, thirty-something, in a conservative blue dress. The other black, only the companionship that shows in her eyes giving away her true age of fifty-two, dressed in a colorful, flowing dress that seemed to have a vibrant life of its own. They appeared to be engaged in light conversation like two women from a General Foods International Coffee commercial. I immediately changed direction and headed for their table.   Mrs. Quindlen, Mrs. Walker, it is a pleasure and an honor to see you. I have read your books and thoroughly enjoyed them. Would you mind if I joined you?   Not at all, stated Mrs. Quindlen. Please, call me Anna. She canvass my face intently, trying to decide whether or not to continue with the conversation or to simply while away the time with small talk until they could thinly push me away. She decided on the former.   We were just sitting here discussing men. You just happened to walk up and now we have a real live man with which to examine.