This morning I remembered the many stories, the many books that we read together. I love reading. I love reading for simply myself, I love reading out loud to my students, and I love reading out loud to you.

In the past few months I’ve downloaded SO many books to my Kindle. As you know I’ve always read more than one book at a time, something you could never ‘get’. I remember how you preferred to read only one book at a time. Well, good for you but for me, there are so many gems ‘out there’ to read and that has driven me to get in the habit of reading multiple books at once.

It depends on what I am doing, how I feel. Historically, I prefer physical books that I can hold. I love turning the books pages and seeing all those words in print. However with my desire to read multiple books simultaneously it’s not feasible to carry all of those books with me. Hence the Kindle which gives me the satisfaction of reading a physical book. I am able to ‘carry’ with me, all the books I have read and all the books I want to read.

No doubt my joy of reading has led me to my joy of writing, which for me is ‘up there’ with my joy of playing the piano. There is not one self-indulging activity that tops playing the piano however.

When you were in the hospital, I started reading a Winnie-the-Pooh book to you. Throughout our years together, you embraced my affinity to Pooh Bear and his Hundred-Acre-Woods stories. Pooh, the one who I fixated upon when I was a mere child. The book I was reading to you sits atop our dresser, unfinished until the time is right. You’ll let me know when to pick that book up again, and read it out loud.

Reading for me is the connection between the reality of my physical presence and a world in which someone else has penned. It’s one of those magical experiences that transcend the mind to another place and time. Words strung together that have ability to send the reader into another space outside of oneself.

Reading is akin to subconscious dreaming, but from print. Consciously allowing oneself to venture into an imagined reality or historical moment important to the writer. It’s an appreciated ‘gift’ from writer to reader, and it’s also a gift from reader to writer. Written word is the deepest expression of self.

I’ve read many books in my life, and living the experience of those words is everything to me.