April 09th, 2020

While I am of the personal opinion that there is never a bad time for books, right now is an especially good time for them.

I almost always have at least one book in the process of being read, sometimes more than one,  plus a magazine or two all sprinkled around the house, close at hand for those occasions when I have a free moment.  Right now I seem to have more free moments than usual........as I'm sure do all of you.   

This time of the Great Quarantine (or the GQ) would be so much worse if I had nothing to read.  Worse even than if we had run out of cookies and that's saying something!  Fortunately, and serendipitiously, the day before the library closed, I happened to have stopped by and selected the three books above.  There was no warning bell.  It's not as if someone alerted the media that the library would be closing so hurry in and pick out your books for the duration.  It was just a happy accident.

I have been trying to make them stretch to fill the entire void.  Which is hard because, well, we have no idea really how long the GQ is going to last, right?  So I tried to limit myself to no more than 2 chapters a day.  It was maddening.  But I stuck with it really well until I began the last library book, "The Beaten Territory" about the history of the origins of Denver on the other side of the tracks.  Not the pretty part of history. Nope the other side.  It is so well written, so captivating (to me at least) that the first day that I sat down to read my alloted to chapters I actually had read 8 chapters before I realized it.  Dang!  I tried to slow down, I really, did, but, but, but....here I am on the second day of reading this book and I'm on chapter 27.    

Once again, serendipity smiles and I have another book waiting in the wings.  When Tim and I returned from the noonwalk recently I found a 1000 piece puzzle that I had loaned to a neighbor returned to me along with this on the doorstep by way of thanks:  (she is an awesome neighbor)

Goody!  Another book!  Huzzah I am saved!

Also by happenstance, what turned out to be my last day at the museum before it shut down, another volunteer who somehow is the recipient of a zillion or so magazines brought in a few for me.  She knows a lot of people who like to read and when they finish their magazines they are handed off to her.  When she finishes them she hands them off to me and then I follow suit.  So I also have, stacked and waiting these:

I haven't even looked to see what any of these magazines are and honestly, I do not care.  It's previously unread reading material and I am good with that.   I will read every single word on every single page, including the ads, when I finish my books.

And one more bit of happenstance.  On the day between the magazine receiving day and the library day I did my usual grocery shopping.  As I was standing in the line, waiting for my turn to be checked through, I saw a Readers Digest that had an intriguing cover and, on a whim, tossed it into my basket as well.  I confess that I am part way through that particular magazine. Magazines are perfect reading material for baths y'see and I do love a nice bath.

So far, so good.  I have the rest of one library book  and one neighbor loaned book and a handful of magazines remaining.  That ought to hold me together for a little while if I really slow it down which is so hard to do.

But eventually they will all be read and if we are still "safe at home" everything thing will be read. Dang.  

 I guess I will have to start re-reading the books I already have on our bookshelves:

That ought to hold me for a little while