this is where i am happy

This is where I am happy .... with my nose buried in a book. And my parents can certainly attest to that. I avoided playing any and all sports and so I spent my early and teen years tucked away in my room, reading or writing letters or absorbed in some other papery fun. Sam always laughs when he takes a moment to picture that ... that 14 year old girl in her own little world. Now that world has expanded to including blogging and the community of women that I follow daily, with admiration and many, many creative ideas a'brewing. Books are my way of experiencing the great, grand, historical, often fictional and unbelievable, world - present, past and future. I love how reading makes me feel. I feel whole and balanced and sometimes feeling as though I'm having the best fun I could ever have. Give me a coffeshop, a beach, a dock, an airport lounge, a couch and I'll be perfectly happy to say goodbye to you and pull out my book.

At the beginning of the year, when Walter was about 3 months old, I was finally feeling able to spend some time reading again. To stay awake long enough before bed to read a few chapters. After both boys were born, that's what made me feel as though I was normal again - I can remember the moment distinctly both times. And so read I did! It was a good, good year for reading. And these were some of my favorites ... out of my long list these are the ones I really remember. Sam was off at Christmas for 11 days and I was ready to abandon my family and leave them to their own devices as I was so, so immersed in the second and third books of the Millenium Trilogy. My holidays were gifted to me as I spent long, uninterrupted afternoons reading in bed. And then jumping back into bed as soon as the dishes were done. I remember my mind feeling so muddled and hazy having to shift back to reality again, to make dinner or to break up a two-boy fight. Those three books were brilliant. It was so satisfying arriving at the culmination of the story and yet I absolutely hated reading that last word and knowing it was the end.

I love reading. Last year I loved all these books. And I also love knowing I have a long list of 'yet to read' books on my library list. I can't tell you how excited that makes me feel.

My 14 year old self would completely understand.