Scout

I know I've been quiet this week.. sorry! I wold love to say I've been busy doing all kinds of fun stuff, but the truth is I've been gazing at my beautiful new floors & stalking new found blogs. Boring, huh? There were a few shopping trips thrown in there. And holding a brand new baby. Just when I thought my baby fever was coming back, he started crying. It's a glorious thing when a baby cries that isn't yours. You can hand them over to the mommy or daddy. I'm so used to it being my baby, it's kind of odd not doing all the work.


I started this post a week ago when I was inspired by a Mama Kat prompt. Sadly, I never finished it to post in time. It got filed as a draft & left alone. Then this morning, I started reading Jamie & just knew I had to finish it.

You see, I'm a reader. Always have been, always will be. I'll be in love with books until I'm a little old lady wearing bi-focals & squinting to see what the letters say. Even then, I might learn Braille just so I can keep reading.

I love everything about books.. the smell, the shape, the way they look on my shelves. I love how you can get so caught up with characters that they actually feel like your friends. I could get lost for hours in a book store or library. There's nothing better than curling up with a glass of wine, cup of coffee & a great book. My mom worked at a library when I was a kid & during the summer, I would go sit while she worked. I would just sit among the books & read for hours and I loved it. Yes, I'm a dork. Even now, I can walk in a large library or a university library & there's just something magical (?) about it. Not sure if that's the right word, but it feels safe.. church like. Like I said, I'm a dork, but at least I own it.

I can remember the summer I read my favorite book for the first time. I picked it up b/c I was spending time with my dad & it was the only book in his house. Unlike me, my dad is not a reader. This was probably the only novel he ever actually read cover to cover & the only reason he owned it was b/c his sister, my aunt, gave it to him as a gift. So, out of necessity I picked it up. I was in love with the front cover. My aunt inscribed the book to her "baby brother, please read this. I'm hoping it will teach you compassion for others & that wealth is not always measured in dollars and cents." Sounded like good advice and the fact that it was good enough to inspire my non-reading father to read it peaked my curiosity.

That was the summer of 1992 & I have read "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee every summer since. It's not a long, grand novel. The hardback is only 300 pages, but I fell in love... with the characters, the town, the message. The main character in the book, Scout, is based on the author. She shows such compassion & intelligence even at a young age. She's not a girly girl, but would rather play football & shoot guns than wear a dress. Through life's lessons, she & her brother learn not to judge others. You never know the life they're living.. You know, the whole "walk a mile in a man's shoes" philosophy.

Side notes & useless trivia

• another character in the book, Dill, is based on Truman Capote who was a childhood friend of Harper Lee's. In fact, if you watch some of the movies about Capote they talk about their friendship.
• I wanted to name my daughter Scout. I lobbied for months & months, but lost. I even tried calling it as a nickname, but it never stuck. I'm still trying though. I can always wait for a granddaughter.
• This summer when I read it, I'm buying an extra copy for my first born to read it with me. He's 13 & I think he's old enough. I hope he loves it as much as I do.
• the same aunt has a personalized autographed copy of the book. I've already put in my bid when she starts to write a will.