Discovery

Ok, the title's a lie. This is more of a post of rediscovery. I went down to the basement last night to find a specific book. It was actually an old biography of my hero, Shaquille O'Neal. But that's not important, what's important are the other books I found. I found "The View From Saturday." I found "From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler." I found my 4th grade self.

I'd always read a lot, but I credit Mr. Watson in 4th grade for really giving me my love of reading, and those are the two first books he told me to read. He gave me a week to read the first one. I thought he was crazy! I was in 4th grade! What he knew, and I didn't, is that I would become so engrossed in that book that I would sneak a flashlight into my room to read after my mom made me turn off the lights. So engrossed that I read it in other classes, so engrossed I took a history test a week early so I could read it in class, so engrossed I intentionally got kicked out of math (back when it was only math, and not calculus) so I could sit on the bench in front of the principal's office and read. Those are the two books that made me realize how incredible reading could be. It made me realize how books can be an escape into a different life. A world of it's own. I have that habit with books to that day. When I find a good book, I literally can't put it down. My dad told me I "devour" books, and that seems pretty accurate to me. I read books in big chunks. I hate lit classes where the teachers tell me to read a chapter a night. I can't do it if it's any good, because I want to know what happens next!

It's been a while since I did any serious reading. I've been crazy with homework, and basketball, and college stuff, so I just haven't found the time. So last night after I found those two books, I sat down and read "The View From Saturday" from cover to cover, just like I used too. I ignored all my pressing responsibilities. I ignored the stress from Ms. Woodward not emailing me back, I ignored the stress from college, I even ignored the email from Wisconsin that told me whether or not I got in. I just read.

I miss it.