Reading was a family adventure when I was a kid. My Dad would take “his girls” to the little neighborhood library next to our school where we each collected a pile of books to last until the next library visit. “The Bobbsey Twins” series were some of my early favorites. Later I moved on to horse books like “The Black Stallion,” and then to “Nancy Drew” a mystery series featuring a spunky girl detective. Reading was an escape, like being ejected from an endangered space ship inside an emergency pod. I was on a different planet when I was reading. It was exciting and safe at the same time. The first book that touched me in a deeper way than just entertainment was "Anne of Green Gables." I remember being moved to tears. I could relate to Anne’s struggle to be accepted for who she was, even though I was not like Anne. She was always getting into trouble and was way more adventuresome than I would ever dare to be. I loved the way she stood up for herself and I loved seeing the world through her eyes. Reading still makes me feel like I am immersed in a new world. I can see the people and places in my imagination. I find myself being a part of a world that is different than the one I physically inhabit and I always get a new perspective on life. I just realized that I haven’t read this kind of book for a long time. I have been caught up in non-fiction self-help books, analyzing the challenges of aging. I like these books. They are enlightening and inspiring and I do shed a few tears when I read about people who are dealing with grief and loss like me, but they aren’t fun. I feel like I’ve lost the joy of reading. Maybe I need to find something that challenges my imagination instead of my psyche. I have been struggling with putting fun and humor into my writing. I know how important reading is to writing and I think I need a boost in the non-analytical side of my brain. I want to take a trip to the library, just for fun.
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Leslie Masona woman in search of her post-retirement future Guess what! By subscribing, you get notices about the latest Little Old Lady with Cats posts sent to your mailbox!
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WHAT IS A LITTLE OLD LADY WITH CATS - REALLY?
(from an entry posted on 5/1/2015) “I definitely fit some of the characteristics of a little old lady with cats: Retired - check, Single - check, Like to knit - check, Have cats - check. . .I do not want to get stuck in my Little Old Lady persona, however. In fact, this blog is a risk taking experiment in exploring and redefining what I want my retired life to look like.” Categories
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