Sometimes I never know where or when one curiosity just moves right into another one. A couple of weeks ago I was writing about people being encouraged to speak out about their interesting experiences in life. I commented that so many people were brought up to “not toot their own horn” or “brag”.

My reason for writing such was I had just read Debbie Conklin’s (Mom’s View) book “THIS AIN’T SHAKESPEARE”. It is an interesting, touching, laughable, real life book!! I was hoping she would start using it as part of her sign off. Brenda Seekins, our editor has written two books and so far I have gotten one. “IMAGES OF AMERICA, SEBSTICOOK VALLEY” is one that my Dad and I could have had so many hours of conversations over. He would have loved it.

My hope is that those who read that article or this one won’t feel embarrassed to “Toot their own horns.” Sharing is great.

So….back to “BOOKS”. While writing this I am riding south on 77 in North Carolina and thinking how long it will be before I can get back up there!! However fortunately for me I can read and write while riding but I still can’t sing or dance!! (Sorry, couldn’t resist that one).

I looked down on the engine mount and there sits Brenda’s book. I have been reading it on the trip. All of a sudden I thought, “Oh no, Gees I’ve already bent the corners of the cover! And I immediately think what would Brenda think if she saw this book?! She spent countless hours and energies and I’ve already bent the cover and dog-eared some pages (yes, I am one of THOSE people).

Then I remembered this little quote that follows: Life is not a journey to the grave with the intentions of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used-up totally worn out and loudly proclaiming “Wow, what a ride!” Okay now granted it was meant to be about people (my kind of people) however what good is a book that has been printed and 40 years later still looks like new? Ya, ya, I know first editions, $$$. Still a waste!

If I pick up a used book and its pages are dog-eared or there is high light marks here and there I’m not going to put it back looking for a cleaner copy. See this is where that curiosity thing of mine shows up.

The highlighted sentences or paragraphs make me wonder what kind of questions of life that may have answered for someone OR did what was written give them the question to ask and what was it.

Dog-eared pages make me wonder what was it about this page that the person thought they might want to go back to OR possibly they wanted to share that page with a friend OR maybe they just got called away from their reading and just marked their spot!

Now that I think about it I have books at home that I have collected about my gazillion interests that aren’t dog-eared or highlighted yet. I absolutely love being a person of many interests but sometimes I get behind.

Anyway, dog-ear those pages, highlight things of interest, and leave behind a sign of your enthusiasm for what you and the author shared. (Except for in library books, they get real touchy about that sort of thing).

As usual, I’m just curious if you can get lost in a book too? And here’s hoping all our kids learn to love to read!