I can't remember when I couldn't read. My earliest memories are of sitting in my room reading. I think this might be because for as long as I can remember my books have been my constant friends and by extension, libraries my favorite place.
Growing up an Army brat my family moved every two to three years. I couldn't take my human friends with me or send a text or FaceTime or all the things we can do today, but I could write a letter or if I was lucky make a long-distance phone call. Over time, it became easiest just to let them fall away. The one "friend" that always traveled with me were my books.
It's easy to fall back into the world of your favorite people when they live in the pages of a book. They never leave, they never disappoint, and, if you're lucky, you learn something new about them every single time you join them in their world again. Laura and Nancy will always hold a special place in my memory. Of course, Flicka, Black Beauty, and Misty of Chincoteague filled my desire to have a horse of my own. These days, my favorite friends live in the worlds of Anne McCaffrey, David Baldacci, or J.K. Rowling. Interesting collection, don't you think? Dragons, witches and wizards, and upstanding citizens who try to fight for good.
One of the first things I always did when we reached a new duty station, was to find the library. Sometimes it was the community library, and many times it was the library in my school. I spent hours in these safe spaces. The librarians soon learned my name and would often recommend something else for me to try. Sometimes, they just shook their head as I checked out the same books over and over. However, I think the librarian in Berlin probably questioned my choice when I checked out the biography of Ty Cobb. Who knew rude baseball players were so interesting?
As an adult not much changed. I still read voraciously and still visit with my old friends on a regular basis. I love finding new "friends" in the pages of a book. I don't limit myself to one genre or one author that would get boring. In the pages of a book, I've traveled this world and many that only exist in the mind of a great storyteller. Every time I pick up a book, I learn something. Give it a try sometime!