We're Off To See the Wizard...

Growing up here in the Emerald City was pretty darn BORING. With the exception of my college years and a few years after college, I've lived here since 1963. It is actually still surprising to me that I am bringing up my family here. When I graduated high school, I vowed to get "outta Dodge" as soon as possible. Perhaps I am back here because my parents gave my husband and I property to build a house on? Well, actually, that's exactly why I'm here! But I am willing to bet I would have ended up back here anyway. There's something about being "home" here in the Emerald City.

Anyway, this blog post is not supposed to be about living here. So, let's start again - growing up here in the Emerald City was pretty darn boring. For one thing, this town did not have alot to offer during the sixties & seventies, in the form of activities for children. Not that my parents would have supported any form of activity for children except - entertaining OURSELVES! Which we all did. And let's face it - living in the sticks? You needed a ride everywhere! My parents were NOT driving us ANYWHERE!

I have 4 brothers and no sisters. Not even a female playmate in the family! We lived on a farm of sorts but I was not exactly into farming. Horses, yes. Farming, NO! I was into escaping. And that is exactly what I did. The public library became my aider and abettor. I took no less than 12 books a week out of the library. This was the ONE activity my parents did support. (My mother was a librarian - hello????.)

On any given day - especially a summer day (after day, after day, after day...), you would find me draped across that ugly Queen Ann's chair in our living room, devouring book, after book. Nancy Drew, The Bobbsey Twins, Little House on the Prairie books (every single ONE!), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlotte's Web and then more sophisticated books as I got older.

(I just have to tell you this side story! When I was 13 or 14, my family drove 8 hours to a spot in Maine for a vacation. My 2 younger brothers fought the entire 8 hours. It was unbearable. Well, we stopped at a rest stop about halfway up and when my father returned to the car, he threw a paperback book at me in the back seat. It had it's cover ripped off. He told me he found it on top of a pile of garbage in a garbage can. HA!!!!!! That was - still to this day - the filthiest, porn "novel" I have ever read!!! What a 4 hours!!!!)

Anyway - thank GOD for books. They totally saved me from the monotony of living in a one horse town with uncooperative taxi drivers for parents.

And guess what? Books continue to be my passion and my escape. Still a rabid reader, not a day goes by in my life that I don't read. The pile by my bed never gets smaller. The list of books I need to read, forever getting longer. My dream is to pack a truck with books, drive onto the Block Island ferry one June morning and not come back to the Emerald City until Labor Day. Every day spent reading on the beach from sun up to sundown.

The other day, I had an epiphany. My 8 year old daughter? SHE'S A READER!!!!
Yes, seriously. She's reading! For pleasure! Like --- curled up in a chair --- READING!! Now let me ask you - do you think I catch joy when I stumble upon that sight???