If asked what I am most passionate about – what I love more than anything in this world (husband, children and dogs excepted), I would answer READING AND BOOKS. And there is nothing, including husband and children or dogs, that I have loved as passionately for as long as I have loved reading and books.
Hey, before you get your panties in a wad, kids, I’ve been reading since 1966. I didn’t even meet your dad until 1979.
My kids might not agree that they rate higher on my list of loves than books and reading do. They are wrong.
Listen, kids, just because I’ve been hiding in the bathroom to read since you were babies does not mean you don’t come first with me. It simply means I have occasionally frequently always needed some peace and quiet to read, which is something small children simply don’t understand. Or care about. Didn’t I sacrifice novels for short stories while you were in diapers? I don’t want you to think I was neglecting you. There were never any (reportable) incidents of neglect or physical or psychological injury resulting from my little escapes. Child Protective Services never showed up, did they?
Books are my addiction, which really isn’t so bad when you consider other more dangerous potential addictions. I will not wither to a drug-addled husk or become a homeless alcoholic drinking from paper bags. And I’ve never heard of even one instance of death by eye strain or paper cut. Nevertheless, mine has been and continues to be an expensive addiction. The bookshelves we emptied last year, carting their contents to storage for our move, have filled up again in the interim. The size of our book collection must be considered when looking at available space in prospective homes and our home buying budget will be reduced to compensate for the amount I’ve spent on books in the last year. But I’m happy. And if Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.
What do you love most in the world? (Family goes without saying…so tell me about your greatest passion besides your family…)
4 comments
Jenn @ Juggling Life says:
June 24, 2008 at 11:14 am (UTC -5)
Oh! We are soul sisters. When I was a kid I used to read in the car from streetlight to streetlight (I don’t know why nobody gave me a flashlight). The print would be dim, brighter, brightest, less bright, dim, dissapear, start all over.
When my mother died a few years ago, my sadness manifested itself in a 300 page a day habit. I still took my kids to the beach and the pool–they were old enough not to need constant watching. Then I lost myself in my book.
Reading has been a constant in my life and great part of my identity since 1968.
Jenn @ Juggling Lifes last blog post..Playing Along With A Side Of My Personal Take On It
Jenn @ Juggling Life says:
June 24, 2008 at 12:58 pm (UTC -5)
When I try to respond to your e-mails about half the time it says “system failure.” Do you have an alternate email?
StartsWithAnX says:
June 24, 2008 at 4:41 pm (UTC -5)
I wish my addiction was books. Unfortunately, it’s really crappy reality TV. Or should I just say reality TV? Anyway, what was the last book you read that brought you to tears?
StartsWithAnXs last blog post..The Ultimate Summertime Betrayal
StartsWithanX says:
June 24, 2008 at 5:58 pm (UTC -5)
Last one that made ME cry? Gotta go way back for that. Let’s see, “Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret?”
No, it was probably “Prep.”
Thanks for the Google reader add. Right back atcha.
StartsWithanXs last blog post..The Ultimate Summertime Betrayal