Susan Poulin - Finding Your Inner Moose: Ida Leclairs Guide to Livin the Good Life

by Rebecca Rule

Meet Ida LeClair, whoalong with best friends Celeste, Rita, Betty, Dot, and Shirleymake up the social club Women Who Run with the Moose. They considered calling themselves Women Who Run with the Potatoes and Women Who Crawl with the Lobsters, but potatoes and lobsters, though powerful totems, didnt carry the cachet of a moose.

Ida LeClair is, in turn, the creation and alter ego of Susan Poulin, writer, actress, storyteller, and all-around talented, lively, warm, funny, and highly original human being. She wrote this book. She writes Ida. She kind of is Ida, but not reallyif you catch my drift.

Ida cashiers down to the A&P. She enjoys it. She enjoys her customers. Most of them. Shes determined to enjoy most things in life. Thats just the way she is. She certainly enjoys the Women Who Run with the Moose, and chronicles their adventures as they shop, get their hair done, eat out, diet, play practical jokes on their husbands, take day trips to the big cities (Portland and Bangor), and, generally, squeeze as much juice out of life in Mahoosuc Mills, Maine, as there is to squeeze. The girls have a darned good time. And, God, dont they like to laugh! And dont they find a lot to laugh about.

Not the least of which is their husbands. Ida loves her Charlie to death, its true, but that doesnt blind her to some of his idiosyncrasies. Or her own. As she and the girls age, as gracefully as possible, they are often inspired by, what else, the moose.

The moose has a flap of skin under its chin called the bell, Ida explains, which kind of sways as it walks. That didnt use to apply to me, but the older I get, ding-dong. What can you do?

What you can do is take what comes in stride with an easy moose-like lope, always remembering to laugh.

So, heres what youll find on these pages:

Idas stories of her life in Mahoosuc Mills.

Idas how-to-live-life-to-the-fullest advice gleaned from her experiences.

Moose lore galore.

Idas husband Charlies peanut-gallery observations, except theyre not from the peanut gallery, theyre from his beloved Barcalounger.

Idas niece Caitlin piping up now and then with her New Agey take on Idas wisdom and, perhaps, offering a writing or breathing or imagining exercise to help you find your inner moose.

Idas down-to-earth (and hilarious) reinterpretation of Caitlins instructions.

What youll also find on these pages is a guide to living with few regrets, with integrity, and joie de vivre (thats French, like Ida). And youll find moments of recognition (thats me!) along with many smiles, many belly laughs, and some wicked good advice.

Like: Whenever you find a restroom, use it; you never know when the next opportunity will present itself. Ida calls this theory Carpe Peeum.

Like: Whenever you find a restroom, use it; you never know when the next opportunity will present itself. Ida calls this theory Carpe Peeum.

Like: Pick one healthy thing you know you should be doing and get it over with early in the day.

Or: Nourish your friendships and yourself by having a standing breakfast or lunch date with a friend or two.

Something I learned: Moose calves are born with their eyes wide openwide open! Ida LeClairs eyes are wide open.

And so is her heart.

Rebecca Rule is a storyteller and author. She regularly performs throughout New Hampshire, and her humor books include Headin for the Rhubarb! A New Hampshire Dictionary (well, kinda) and Live Free and Eat Pie! A Storytellers Guide to New Hampshire. Her first childrens book, The Iciest, Diciest, Scariest Sled Ride Ever!, will be published in November 2012.