Wise Words From Readers: On favorite books…

Books are magical, aren’t they? Maybe magical is even an understatement. I mean, think about it. From the time we learn to read, usually a Dr. Seuss tale about cats or green eggs, we let books take us on fantastical journeys to faraway places. Outer space. The wild west. The future. It seems we all have our favorite book, and are quite passionate about said favorite…

*The Harry Potter series. When I was a kid, my mother took me to the bookstore, determined to turn me into a reader. We came home with The Sorcerer’s Stone. She read the first two chapters to me and then I tackled the rest. It took me MONTHS to finish it, but I was completely enthralled by it. I remember reading chapter twelve, where Harry Potter sees his parents in the Mirror of Erised, and how it left my insides rustling. I bolted down the stairs to my mother, the smartest woman in the world, the woman who understood all things, could explain all things, and asking her what was wrong with me.

“I read this chapter,” I said, “and now my heart feels funny.”

My mother peered up at me from the couch. A smile softened her face. “Oh, it’s okay, sweetie. Books do that to you sometimes.”

So, I kept reading.

I didn’t realize it then, but that was the first time I actually felt something for a character in a book. It was the first time writing left a physical impact. Later, when I read The Chamber of Secrets, I realized this entire world of magic, places and characters was made out of words, and I wanted to do the same thing. So, I did. I wrote a 300 page book by hand when I was eleven years old, and then I realized I was wired for this. I’ve been doing it ever since.

*The Little Prince — Super explanations on the beautiful simplicity of life, joy, friendship and death. Loved it as a child; love it more as an adult.

*I like all murder mysteries!

*A Rose In Winter. Very well written.

I have two favorite books, though one is a play. I remember reading The Catcher In The Rye in junior high and falling in love with Holden, the James Dean-esque rebel who becomes disillusioned with phonies as he tries to find himself. I don’t think anyone at that age could read the book and not identify with Holden — even if it’s only a little bit. Another one of my favorites is Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie. The story mirrored my family, almost eerily so, and I remember reading the play in one sitting and being just a wee bit spooked when I finished. It’s weird when books have that sort of power, isn’t it? Anyway, here’s next week’s question…

What’s your favorite holiday family tradition? Why does it stand out in your mind?

Visit So About What I Said on Facebook and Twitter to share your smarts — and don’t forget to use hashtag #WiseWordsFromReaders. See you there, friends! 🙂

[Photos via We Heart It]

Wise Words From Readers: On beating the winter blues…

When the temperatures drop (brrrr!) and it starts getting dark at 4:30pm (ugh!), it’s easy for those winter blues to sneak up on you. Our bodies just seem better hard-wired for sunny, warm weather, so those cold ones can feel like they drag on forever! The trick, though, is to add your own brand of sunshine and happiness — you know, really find those things that make you smile and will make the winter go by even faster. And you had NO trouble coming up with ideas this week, friends…

*Beating the winter blue, to me, means embracing it. I dislike cold weather, but I try to find things I love to do when it’s cold — movie marathons, reading a good book by the fire, drinking hot chocolate. Then it’s not so bad.

*Exercise! I was feeling pretty bad before I went to the y…Now, all better!

*Catching up on the DVR all weekend, warm and cozy fleece clothes, yummy coffees to warm up ! I leave a lamp on too so our house is never “dark” when it gets dark so early. Extra cuddles with the fur babies and put winter sweaters on them too.

*Good music, lots of natural light, cooking and cleaning and SHOPPING!

*Baking cookies with the Blake ladies!

*EAT!

Oh, I can definitely relate to eating lots of yummy food in the winter. We’ve been eating lots of baked potatoes lately. Also, I love sitting at the kitchen table and working on my blog while it’s snowing. There’s something so cozy about watching the falling snow — especially when you’re not out in it! And who can resist a TV marathon? We shamelessly love the Kardashians and House Hunters. Anyway, here’s next week’s question…

What’s your all-time favorite book and why?

Visit So About What I Said on Facebook and Twitter to share your smarts — and don’t forget to use hashtag #WiseWordsFromReaders. See you there, friends! 🙂


[Photos via We Heart It]

Wise Words From Readers: On time-traveling adventures…

I’ve always been fascinated with time. How different time periods are defined and remembered. How history is recorded and looked back on. How people actually lived through the Age of Disco — and are fully comfortable admitting they lived through it. Maybe that’s why I’ve come to be such a fan pop culture and love fantasizing about stealing Doc Brown’s DeLorean and heading back in time. And it turns out that you’d like to take a time-travel trip too, friends…

*The ’70s because I don’t remember much of the first go ’round!

*The ’50s. Not sure why. Simplicity?

*The ’70s — they seemed like fun.

*I’d probably like to be born in the late ’30s. For mostly the very shallow reason that I love the clothing in the ’40s and ’50s and would love to be young then, but also so I could see Woodstock and a lot of other shows.

*I’m glad I live now, to be honest. I could say a prior decade — but then, I’d not have all the advantages and technology and wisdom and experience I’ve gleaned from 7 decades of life. I’d miss my computer and smartphone and being able to access information so quickly — but most of all, the ability to communicate with people over long distances quickly and easily. I’d not be able to live as an independent woman without having to rely on someone to support me, as was the case in earlier decades. My mom’s generation, for example.

Hmmm, this is a tough one for me. I’ve always thought I was born in the wrong decade, like I was meant to be a ’50s girl or something. I love the innocence and promise of that decade, and of course, who can resist all the AMAZING fashion. Poodle skirts, anyone? But, here’s a mind-bending, Matrix question: Would my motorized wheelchair work in the ’50s? Surely they had these sorts of wheelchairs back then, right? Anyway, here’s next week’s question…

How do you beat the winter blues? What tips and tricks do you have?

Visit So About What I Said on Facebook and Twitter to share your smarts — and don’t forget to use hashtag #WiseWordsFromReaders. See you there, friends! 🙂


[Photos via We Heart It]

Wise Words From Readers: Oh, if I won the lottery…

Oh, it’s everyone’s favorite question: What would you do if you won the lottery? How would you spend the money? It can be a daunting question. You want to spend it wisely, sure, but part of you wants to buy your own mountain and name it after yourself — you know, a fantasy you’ve had since you were in elementary school. So you try to strike a balance, which is something I learned this week from you, friends…

*I’d pay off my son’s student loans, and put aside enough to pay for the rest of his college. My parents paid for my college education, and I’d like to be able to pay for his. I’ve paid for a lot of it, but not all of it yet.

*Pay the taxes on the winnings. Then make nice large gifts to my two children to use as they raise their children.

*Pay the bills, including the kids’ bills. Build a ranch house on some acres and build a huge year-round kennel for Bloodhound rescue. Donate to charity.

*Retire. To live happily ever after, of course!

So what would I do? I’d build my mom a house with an indoor pool like she’s always wanted, and I’d buy my family a beach house on the Alabama Gulf Coast, so we can go visit any time we want and remember all those good times we had there over the years. I’d also donate to suicide and mental health awareness. Oh, and I’d also get front-row tickets to a Taylor Swift concert. Anyway, here’s next week’s question…

If you could live in any decade or time period, which would you choose and why?

Visit So About What I Said on Facebook and Twitter to share your smarts — and don’t forget to use hashtag #WiseWordsFromReaders. See you there, friends! 🙂


[Photos via We Heart It]

Wise Words From Readers: On why I love the holidays

The most wonderful time of year is upon us! Yes, I’m talking about the time of family, love, hot chocolate and general merriment. I’ll admit that I’ve been a bit curmudgeon-y this year when it comes to the onset of Santa Season, saying a time or two, “What are these holiday commercials doing on so early?” Then we had the first sprinkles of snow last week, and it formed a pretty light dusting on the ground. So! Maybe I’ll get excited sooner rather than later after all. And something tells me you’re pretty excited too, friends…

*Getting everything done early so you can enjoy the holiday with family and friends at home by the tree and avoid the rush…best part is Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner. All together!

*We don’t celebrate the holidays much, but I do like driving around and seeing everyone else’s decorations.

*Grand kids!

*This holiday season I’m most looking forward to spending time with my husband and our pets, playing board games and watching holiday movies!

*Making peanut brittle.

*Cozy morning with my husband and the boys, with presents and food and no rushing.

*Fire in the fireplace, twinkly lights, cozy. Seeing loved ones. The rush of successful performances and/or students’ performances. Memories of going into Chicago with the family to see a show every Thanksgiving when we were growing up.

This year, I’m looking forward to decorating our tree over Thanksgiving, eating lots of my mom’s almond cookies, seeing her sing in the church choir on Christmas Eve and UNPLUGGING for awhile to savor lots of family time. There’s nothing like the three of us hunkering down in my mom’s room and watching House Hunters and The Big Bang Theory — those are the memories I’m going to look back on in 10 years and smile just thinking about them. Anyway, here’s next week’s question…

If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would do with your winnings and why?

Visit So About What I Said on Facebook and Twitter to share your smarts — and don’t forget to use hashtag #WiseWordsFromReaders. See you there, friends! 🙂


[Photos via We Heart It]