Reading

"We read books to find out who we are." - Ursula K. LeGuin  

I love to read......and always have.  I am proud to say I was a bookworm.  As a child, I read comic books,
the classics, my older brothers and sister's textbooks (high school and college, I was in grade school) anything that could be read, Weekly Readers, magazines, my mom's collections of The Reader's Digest leather bound
condensed books......yep I read them all.  As my parents became more religious through my childhood,
I read the Bible, cover to cover, yearly.  Most times in my life, I have had at least three books going at once.

Through the years, I have read cookbooks, how to books, self-help books, I still will read almost anything.
When I was a kid, reading gave me an escape......the chance to be someone else, prettier, smarter, living in Greece or the Alps.  Reading let me be the girl with the wavy black hair, the dark skin, the girl who traveled, who had means.  Reading showed me how others thought, that the world was not black and white but so many shades of grey, they could not be counted.  Reading taught me to think for myself, and to ask questions.
Reading opened doors, it led me to fascinating conversations, meeting people I would never have met.

Through the years, when I needed rest and would not take it, Rick knew the answer......bring home a new book, give me ten minutes and I would lie on the sofa the rest of the day and read......I am such an easy mark!  Our coffee table is always piled with books and magazines, we sit in the mornings with our coffee, reading.....it is the last thing we do before we go to bed at night.  We still receive two daily newspapers, I don't read them cover to cover, but I read a good bit of them......even when it seems the news is not worth reading.

I know that electronic books are taking over the world, but not mine.  Rick listens to books on tape, but not me.  I love the feel, the texture, the smell of a book.  I love that our living room walls and office walls are filled with bookshelves overflowing......these books are old friends, family who if you will have been with me through some of the roughest and the best times of my life.......with these books, I have laughed out loud, and sobbed.  Every once in a blue moon, I make myself take an inventory, I force myself to pass on some of my books.....it is difficult, like giving away children......but I make sure they get good homes!

So what are some of my favorite books......those that I have read again and again.......The Alchemist,
Agents of Innocence, To Kill A Mockingbird, For Whom The Bell Tolls,  The Rhythm of Life,
As  A Man Thinketh,  The Power of Intention,  Love in the Time of Cholera, Black Cherry Blues, Illusions,
Excuse Me Your Life is Waiting, The Orange Duffle Bag,  Double Whammy, Atlas Shrugged,  Brave New World,........oh god, I can't list them all!  The Prophet, The Tao, ok.....I have to stop now.

In years past, I have given books as gifts to children, one of my favorites to give......The Giving Tree.
I remember I gave Rick's young niece a book for her birthday many years ago, she was not a happy child.
But, now quite a few years later, she told me  that her mom made her read that  book, and she slowly began a relationship with books......she loves to read now.   Now days, if you have not read my husband's book, I will
probably give his book as a gift to you..... of course, it will be signed.

So this love affair continues, I hope until my eyes just fade away. .. Educated people, who think for themselves, who question,  who demand to know the answers...... keep our country honest.  I love the story of Abe Lincoln, reading by  the fire, by candle light, consumed with the burning desire to learn.
Reading keeps the mind open, reading allows us passage to the unknown, reading takes us where we might never go alone......it can shake us to our very soul, create anger and passion, and soothe the savage breast.
Reading has been, I think , the very best part of my education.