Only Recently Well Read

Growing up I tried lot of different activities. I danced, I sang, I played sports. There is a long list of hobbies that I took part in, but listing them here would bore you to tears. I tried just about everything. With every new opportunity, I knew it was going to be the one thing I would do for life. It never was. I enthusiastically persuaded my parents allow me to take piano lessons. I quit two years later due to lack of interest and talent. I begged to take dance. I quit that too due to lack of interest and talent. I tried out for cheerleading, made the squad and asked for parental sponsorship for all of the uniforms and fees required. I quit after a year. The list goes on and on. Somethings lasted a month, others last years, but in the end. I did not seem to be as interested in them as I thought I would be in the beginning. I would guess a lot of kids were like this. Some were forced to stick with what they asked for. I pitched fits frequently. So eventually, I was always allowed to give up.

Of all the things I "loved" doing as a child, reading was not one of them. I hated it. I liked being read to. I liked the stories. The act of reading myself was miserable. I learned to read pretty early, but it was not my great passion. Reading was what the kids that were socially challenged did. I was socially inclined. Reading was not for me. Fortunately, my parents made me read anyway. In elementary school, all I wanted was to get my ears pierced. But getting them pierced would cost me. 11 chapter books. I tried negotiating a low price, but was denied. The parents held firm to their price. So, I quickly skimmed through them and received two holes in my ears. In high school, I read one book per summer of my summer reading and spark noted the rest. Reading was slow, uninteresting and antisocial. After graduating, I picked up a copy of Pride and Prejudice. I was no longer forced to read. I would not be test on any material. I figured it was worth a shot. Something changed. I loved it! I immediately started reading everything I could get my hands on. All of the books I skipped reading in high school I read. I bought new books. I read and read and read. I had found what I loved to do and it was wonderful. Every book opened up a new world and new adventure. Each one was different. It didn't get old. So far, I still love to read. I'm hoping this is one of those things that sticks around for life. I don't consider myself a well read person. There is so much more to read and know. It's difficult to know where to begin. Books are like people. Each one is so uniquely different. You can't just lump them all together and define them. You have to get to know them. You can judge a book by its cover, but you might be horribly wrong.