Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The joy of reading

When I was little, I read ALL THE TIME. And I mean, every second that I could squeeze into my life.

At bedtime, I would have a flashlight tucked away under my pillow so I could read under the covers. If I was brave enough, I'd sneak into the closet and read. I always got caught but it was worth it. Although I never really got into trouble over it, except for the lectures from my Mom about hurting my eyes. (Hence, glasses by age 11.)

Car trips were my favorite because it meant that I had more time to read. I couldn't bring a flashlight for night-time driving since it was too distracting for my Dad. But I read until the very last ray of light filled the sky.

At school, I'd finish my work early just so I had time to read at my desk. Sometimes we'd be assigned to read from a page from our textbooks and I'd go ahead and read the entire chapter. Once I finished that, I'd hold my textbook up and read my own book inside of it.

Now almost 34 years old, I almost feel like that little girl again having to sneak in time to read because I have so much else to do.

Lately I've been reading on my iPhone because it's handy when I'm waiting at the DMV or sitting with the kids while they watch Power Rangers. But I enjoy actual books more. I just finished reading Hunger Games - a real book and everything! I bought Catching Fire and Mockingjay yesterday at Target, which I plan to read this week while on "vacation" in Phoenix. And for this short episode in my semi-hectic life, I will read uninterrupted.

And it will be awesome.