Reading Days

Post date: Jul 06, 2013 4:18:53 PM

Growing up in the South, my favorite time of the year was summer.  I would escape the heat by visiting cool libraries and leaving with an armful of new books.  Back at home, I'd find the coolest spot in the house, or on our porch, and delve into the pages.  

My favorite stories were horse tales, "The Black Stallion" series, the "Misty of Chincoteague" books, biographies of famous women and men in American history, and anything I found on my big sister's bookshelves. This ranged from "Gone With the Wind" to "The Picture of Dorian Gray" or "The Great Gatsby." I read it all!

I loved spending my summers in other worlds, places I was sure I would visit when I grew up, people I was sure I'd meet when I left home and was free to do as I pleased.

Now, many years later, I still spend many hours in other worlds created by authors.  I have not been to all the places I planned on visiting--the Arabian desert, for instance. Along my journeys, both here and abroad, I have met all kinds of people.  One serendipitous meeting in Provence ended up as a story I penned for "Chicken Soup for the Tea Lover's Soul."  

I have no idea what the future holds. This I do know. When I hold a book in my hands, I can go anywhere I please and share the adventures of people I have never met, but that I know intimately.

This is the magic of reading, and I am grateful.