When I met my husband, January 2002, we had a little turmoil blending our families - 6 teenagers can make life. . .well, pleasant - NOT! And there were moments I was not sure we would be able to be together. We weren't sure the issues with the kids could be worked out. I'm happy to say they did work out and this May we will be married 7 years.
Now you may wonder what books have to do with any of this. The thing was that during those moments of stress and anguish, when we thought we might have to stop seeing each other I would assure him each time, that I would be ok "I still have my books". I've always been a reader, getting all the reading certificates all through grade school and junior high, earning my lifetime award - uh, yeah, who cares, right. But books have always been a very important part of my life and it was my way of telling him that I would live through it. I wouldn't like it but I would survive.
Eight years later books remain a little joke between us. Through the years I have read many and we have read many more. You see, I pulled him into my love of books and rather than listening to the radio in the car I read to him while he drives. I think I'm just as excited for our trips because of what places books will take us as I am about the places we're going.
He's very good about keeping me stocked in new books, so a few weeks ago when I mentioned my to-read pile was down to just a couple of books he promptly took me on a search to find some new ones. It took a few shopping expeditions but I acquired a nice pile to read alone and to share with him.
Before you ask, yes I have contemplated getting an electronic reader of sorts, it would diminish my need for a book light in bed I assume. But I couldn't take it in the tub with me, could I? Or to the beach, etc? Are they waterproof. Besides, there's something I like about holding it in my hands and turning the pages. The only time I hate my books is when we move, lugging 10+ plastic tubs of books is really not much fun, and our teenagers have since grown and moved out - except for Haden and he's pretty tired of moving my boxes of books around for me, lol.
Oh well, no matter what happens, I still have my books.
