Saturday, April 28, 2012

couldn't live without . . .

dear emily,

i was hemming through my day, crookedly as always, and thought of
something that i could not live without.

books.

for lent one year i fasted books.   it was excruciating.   take my chocolate,
my desserts, my phone, but give me my books.

sometimes i have three or four books humming through my mind at the same
time.    beautiful or tragic phrases become cadences in my soul like, "sleep
was spooned into her."   other times i remind myself of elf saying interesting
words repeatedly, "francisco, franCISco, F R A N C I S CO!"

i love the silliness of amelia bedelia as much as i adore the heroism of
gentle atticus.   big books, little books, tragedies, comedies, mysteries . . .
the book i've read the most?  the Good Book.

no matter how late the doctor is for my 1:00 appointment or how long the
traffic is piled up at 51st and harvard, i have the means to escape into the
tale i keep with me at all times.   sometimes i look forward to waiting, so i
have another excuse to read.

what thing could you not live without?

love,
lea

"do not let this Book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it
day and night . . . "  joshua 1:8


16 comments:

Ruth said...

i understand what you mean.... i too have 5 books piled on my table... hoping and waiting that i may get the time to read them SOON...:-)

Have a blessed Sunday!!

Anne Lyken-Garner said...

Oh, Yes! I love books too - reading AND writing them. I have my book coming out this Spring. I can't wait for it to be published!
Thanks for your comment on my blog. Please share it with your readers if you think they'll benefit from it too.
Thanks, Lea.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh My Gosh... What could I not live without???? Yipes---dare I say my computer/internet/blogging/Facebook?????

I couldn't live a day without George... Hope I don't ever have to!!!!

I would have no trouble 'fasting' on books, phones, desserts, sweets, etc..... BUT--I need my 'puter!!!!! ha

Hugs,
Betsy

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Well I some how missed this...oh I love books too, my love affair started with teaching my children and I have never turned back...I use to have at least 5 going at all times hidden in different places in the house.

I am learning to read more for entertainment this days....all those years of educating myself, now I am can curl up and just be entertained. Children's books are still among my favorites.

Felisol said...

I also have books piled up everywhere,and I see to that there's interesting books to read even in the car.
These last four months have learned me an important lesson; not to take my ability to read for given.
two cataract operations have changed my eyesight from minus till plus. I need new glasses, but must wait till the eyes have "settled". Then I got something called after cataract and must have laser operation on both eyes again. Meanwhile I can only read on the xl screen belonging to my pc.
How I miss holding a book!!
We really don't know what we have got until we have lost it. I am in the happy position that I will retrieve my ability to read books.
If I hadn't, my life would have lost much on quality.
I guess I never felt really thankful for the ability to read.
Now I do.

myletterstoemily said...

whoa, felisol, that gives me the shivers.
sooooo sorry.

♥ my diary♥ said...

nice post thanks for sharing...blessings

HeARTworks said...

My husband and I love books! We have books piled everywhere! magazines too! I love that we can travel anywhere in time and place, and get invited to parties, experience hardship without really experiencing it,get to know people, etc. Don't know about Kindle though. I like turning pages! Patsy from
HeARTworks

Silver Strands said...

I'm with you ... BOOKS. Oh, and my eybrow pencil.

Jenners said...

You gave up books for Lent!? WOW! I'm impressed. I don't think I could do it. It would definitely be a sacrifice. In fact, I think I could give up chocolate easier than I could give up books.

My Grama's Soul said...

I haven't stopped here for quite some time...I'm sorry for that...but time does seem to have a way of escaping me. I really like what you have done it....so fresh and new....and I, too, COULD NOT live without books....the actual kind you hold in your hand....not a NOOK BOOK.

xo

Jo

Susan said...

Hi Lea,

Love your sweet blog! And I loved this post. As for the thing I couldn't live without? That's easy - my laptop. OH, and my cell phone. Wow, isn't it amazing how dependent we've grown on our gadgets??

Hugs from VA!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

I wish I had more time for books and reading. I remember reading Amelia Bedelia to my girls when they were small. My youngest daughter has read more than anyone I know and she is always encouraging me and challenging me. But there are just so many minutes in a day :)

The Strawberry Mallard said...

Food for the mind.........food for the soul........NEVER take away my books Lord...or my ability to comprehend them ...
L, NEBS

Joan Elizabeth said...

I love books but I think I love my computer more.

Auntie Cake said...

Oh Lea,
I don't know why in the world I haven't been for a visit for such a long time. It was so wonderful to read all the posts I have missed. Your wit and wisdom, all packaged up for me. I hope the wedding was a magical event, that the bride was a princess, and you were the queen who raised the prince.

Have a wonderful week. Put those feet up, you deserve it!
Kate
PS- nothing is better than a clean house, an empty afternoon, and a stack of books!