My first love

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I thought I would reminisce for a minute about my first love.  While I guess I technically can't confirm that books and reading are my very first love, they have definitely been the most long lasting.  

I remember when it was considered sort of uncool to enjoy reading, but this stigma never stopped me from taking a book with me every place I went.  As a kid, going to the library was literally the highlight of my day, and from the moment I walked in and saw all the books lining the shelves, just waiting to be checked out and read through one by one, I felt overcome with excitement and an eagerness to just sit down and read.  MUST.  READ.  ALL.  THE.  BOOKS.  This was my state of mind almost all the time. 

So yea.  I love reading.  And I have so much respect for the writers out there who spin these glorious stories, who can use words to create such lasting experiences for generations of readers that they remember them their entire lives.  I remember so many books from my childhood, books that I read or that were read to me that will never escape from my memory.  I remember the first time I read a book by Stephen King, being absolutely and utterly amazed by the magnitude of the story, and knowing that I had crossed over into a whole new territory of reading. 

One of my favorite things about the joy of reading is that the experience is never one and done.  I still come across books that challenge me, that amaze me.  I love that there are still stories out there that I have yet to discover, that can alter my way of thinking about certain topics.  I love that a really good book will stay with me for days and days.....that I actually miss the characters and yearn to return to the story, to desire a continuation of some kind.  This is the telltale sign of a fantastic book, and the fact that I can still experience this after numerous years and countless books proves that this is a lifelong occurrence......as long as you have the right book. 

Yes, reading is something that I never lost my desire for.  I still don't leave the house without a book or my Kindle, and I seldom go a day without finishing at least one chapter before bedtime.  I don't know if all this reading has helped to make me a better writer, but I like to think it has helped make me a better thinker, a more vivid dreamer, and more inclined to explore the questions and ideas that fascinate and perplex me.  Whenever I develop an interest in something, my first inclination is to find a book about it.  Whenever I find out a movie I've just seen is based on a true story, I have a strong urge to find the book it was based on.  Books, to me, are priceless.  And as much as I love the convenience of my Kindle, turning the pages of a real book is one of the most satisfying feelings in the world. 

I will celebrate Valentine's Day with my husband and my two adorable beagles.  We will take an evening walk through the park, come home and barbeque steaks, drink some wine, and cuddle on the couch watching TV for most of the night.  And during the commercial breaks?  I'll be flipping through the pages of one of the three books I'm currently reading.  Just me, Dean, the beagles.....and a book.  Nothing like spending Valentine's Day with all the ones you love.