July 31, 2016 OoooH OoooH------THAT SMELL

Different fragrances dance in my nostrils when I run in the warmer weather.  The aroma of lilac, honeysuckle, lavender, peony, and roses is  intoxicating. I literally stop my run just for an extra whiff--nature's perfume. On many days, the ocean also smells salty and clean as the tide beats against the shore-- unless it's low tide. On those  hazy, hot, humid days when the sun bakes the mussels and seaweed-- that's a whole different kind of smell. Another aroma of the season that runners face is skunks. They seem to leave their stale eau de cologne everywhere--it permeates the air and even burns your eyes at times. BUT believe it or not, there is a smell that makes the skunk smell like a rose--GARBAGE. Running by overflowing garbage cans on garbage day is bad-- even worse though is getting stuck running behind the garbage truck --it is a fate worse than death in the summer. Ooooh, the woes of a runner!  God Bless the sanitation workers--I don't know how they do it.
Speaking of garbage, Juan Diego, the main character of John Irving's new book The Avenue of Mysteries, grew up in a garbage dump in Oaxaco, Mexico, in the 1970's. I should probably let you know  that John Irving is one of my favorite writers but he's not for the casual reader. His writing style is reminiscent of Charles Dickens because Dickens was his favorite writer as a kid and he made the decision to be a writer like Dickens when he was all of 9 years old. Imagine that! Irving writes very quirky stories with strange characters and funny situations. As a reader, you have to just let Irving take you into his strange world--it might not seem to make sense--but every quirk, character, scene--however odd--will fall into place by the end of the story. He is a wonderful writer. Anyways, back  to Juan Diego. He is an aging writer who seems to live more in the past than the present. He is on his way to the Philippines to fulfill a promise he made back in his years as the "dump reader" of Mexico. While traveling, he reminisces about his childhood. While living in  the dump, Juan Diego collected books and taught himself to read and write in Spanish and English--a feat--for an orphan living in a dump. His sister, Lupe, is also gifted but in another way--she can read minds. We learn all about his life and the people who helped shape it while he lived in the-- dump--orphanage--circus and finally the United States with his adopted family--a very odd but loving  couple.  It is a strange but wonderful story reminiscent of Irving's characters from other books; especially,  Garp and Owen Meany. It is also a thought provoking, empathetic story  about fate and the importance of memory, childhood and the people and experiences that shape our lives. Although it's only 440 pages, it is a commitment to a degree--a 10 mile run--but enjoy it because there is only one John Irving.

July 28, 2016 CAN'T FIND MY WAY HOME

I have a disease. It's called "Directionality Deficiency." I'm pretty sure it's genetic and has something to do with being left handed. Being directionally challenged can cause complications, especially, when running a new race or in a new area. This is when I am most  thankful that I have a comrade with a good sense of direction. Recently, I spent a few days in New York City with my comrade--since we were on the upper east side---so she told me---we ran in Central Park. I have run in Central Park before, but that was for a half marathon about 8 years ago in  torrential  rain--all I can remember from that race is being frozen and soaking wet. I would have given away my left arm for a hot shower that day.  Anyways, running in Central Park is beautiful even in the heat. There are so many people out enjoying themselves that it is intoxicating-----BUT it is a prime place for the directionally challenged to get lost. I have difficultly keeping my left and right straight , but add to that east, west, south and north and I could get lost in the park for 50 years. Thankfully, my comrade took charge as we ran around the park. It was fun because I didn't have to worry about a thing. We weaved our way left, right, north, south,  east, west--I don't know-- but an hour later we were back where we started from. It was one of the highlights of our  trip because it is  always great fun to explore new places.
Harold Fry has a problem much like mine when he decides to walk 627 miles across England to visit  a long lost friend in, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce.

Harold is a recently retired man with too much  time on his hands. His wife can't seem to stand him and every day is virtually the same. One day, Harold receives a letter from an old friend named Queenie. She tells him that she is very ill and dying. Harold immediately writes back, but while bringing the letter to the post office,  he changes his mind and decides to hand deliver his message. He doesn't have any money with him--he literally has only the clothes on his back as he sets out on his quest. Many interesting people help him along the way--giving directions, food, advice or a place to rest his weary feet. Harold's journey becomes a second chance--he reexamines his life and really starts to live again with new hope and direction for the future. Joyce writes a wise, funny story--you will crack up--Fry is a quirky character--but you will love him and never forget his story. This novel is about 380 pages--only a 5k--as it is easy to read and hard to put down. There is also a surprise twist in this book that makes it even more delicious. If you love Harold Fry, the sequel came out last year which is equally wonderful. Have fun, but don't get too lost in the story! Follow my blog with Bloglovin

JULY 25, 2016 CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST

During my first year as a runner, my grandfather, who had been diagnosed with diabetes, not only lost his sight but his ability to walk too. I was devastated  when his health declined. For some reason though, this fueled my running. I would tell myself, don't quit now-just one more block--do it for Ump because he can't. My grandfather was my real life hero. He was a man who was up with the rising sun working his cow and chicken farm for over 40 years. He was a hard worker who enjoyed the outdoors and his family. I have great memories of grading and selling eggs, feeding the cows and swimming in the pool with my siblings. Wonderful memories. Anyways, he's been dead 18 years but when I am out running tough runs, I think of my Ump--he is my friendly ghost. He gives me the push I  need to put one foot in front of the other and carry on. I guess some ghosts can be a good thing.
I have always been intrigued by stories about ghosts. I don't know if they exist, but I imagine them as sort of like angels who watch over their loved ones.

This fascination led me to read The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue. This beautifully written tragic, love story takes place mostly in New Orleans but spans several decades. The main  character is a beautiful, young woman named Raziela Nolan who dies in a freak accident but will not go beyond because she is heartbroken at the loss of her love, Andrew. She stays in-between. While in-between, Razi haunts a house that is eventually occupied by a young couple named Amy and Scott. Their problems mirror Razi's from years ago-- enabling Razi to finally search for Andrew, to see him one last time, before she passes over. This 240 page novel  is a story about love, loss and redemption---it's about a 4 mile run--but you will not want it to end. I almost forgot---the ending has a a great TWIST--it will  haunt you the way it lingers--almost ghostly.

JULY 22, 2016 I'VE FALLEN AND I CAN'T GET UP

Falling is an inevitable part of running. It's going to happen to everyone sooner or later. Little kids fall all the time and just brush it off---get up and start running around again. It's different for grown ups. Falling is a frightening experience and seems to happen in slow motion (like the six million dollar man or bionic  woman) and there is no way to stop it from happening--you just have to go with it and try not to get hurt. I have had 3  falls that I can think of off the top of my head. A few years back I took a fall --I was pretty scratched up but not really hurt. The only reason I remember it is because I landed about 2 inches away from a giant pile of dog poop--people really need to scoop!! The next time I fell, I really injured myself. I tripped while  hopping onto a sidewalk. I was really banged up. I bruised my rips and tore up my shoulder, knees and arms. It took about 6 months for my ribs to heal--they may have healed sooner if I took more time off from running but runners do not often make good decisions about these things. Anyways, I fell again last week. Luckily, I fell mostly in the dirt. I re-injured my shoulder and ribs a little but thankfully missed hitting my head on a the guardrail by 6 inches. The funny thing about falling is trying to get up. Cars are driving by--it's embarrassing--trying to shake it off--assess the damage--what to do next? Anyways, I had no choice but to run to a local gas station covered from head to toe in dirt, cuts, and blood.  Thankfully, they had a hose and I was able to clean up--so now I was soaking wet from head to toe and had to run about 3 more miles to get home. At least I felt good enough to finish the run--- a  more sensible person would have called it a day though!
The whole idea of falling makes me think of the famous explorer George Mallory. In 1924 George Mallory  fell while on his third attempt to summit Mount Everest. Unfortunately for Mallory, it took 75 years to find his body. I read about his incredible journey (during my non-fiction phase about 15 years ago) in Last Climb The Legendary Everest Expedition of George Mallory by David Breashears and Audrey Salkeld. This is an excellent book about the race to be the first to summit Mount Everest. Although Norgay and Hillary were credited with this feat in May of 1953, there is still debate as to whether Mallory and Irvine reached the summit in 1924 before falling. Not sure anyone will ever know. The book is about 240 pages of vintage pictures, letters and diary entries of Mallory and the other climbers on the expedition. It is an excellent read full of interesting information. Early exploration is fascinating and can in no way be compared to climbers today with all of their modern technology. Just one look at their equipment and gear and it's a wonder they could summit any mountain. Sheer will and determination, reminiscent in many ways to running.  On a side note, George Mallory II (grandson of George Mallory) reached the summit on 1995 in remembrance of his grandfather. What a way to honor one of the most famous explorers in history!

July 20, 2016 HELLO

When you run in the same neighborhoods for several years, you start to ask yourself, Why don't people just say hi?  Just because someone says, "Hi," doesn't mean they want to be BFF's right? Anyways, a few years back, I made a bold move---I would say good morning or hello to every person I saw while out running. Of  course, my comrades thought I was crazy, but they accept my idiosyncrasies--so they went with it. We see many people when we are out running including the young, old, homeless, lonely, helpless--you never know. I remind myself that  I may be the only person acknowledging that person on a given day-- and a kind word can go a long way.  Many people are shocked and taken aback  when I look at them and say good morning, some ignore me, but others smile back with a kind reply.
One morning I think it was last year, I was running my usual route which goes under a train overpass. Train overpasses are a little creepy, especially, if you are running under one at the same time as a train flies through. SCARY. The whole thing rattles and shakes and you feel like the train is going to fall on your head. Anyways, I ran  under the overpass and came upon a man sitting in a little alleyway crying hysterically. He looked strung out--I frightened him  as much as he frightened me. I looked at the man and spoke a few kind words. He looked in my direction in acknowledgment. I don't know why, but I still think about him every time I run under the overpass. I wonder if he ever got the help he clearly needed. I hope so.

While on the subject of trains and overpasses, one of the main characters in the psychological thriller, Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins reminds me of the man I ran into that day. There are actually three main characters in the story who take turns telling their story in first person narrative. Rachel is a 32 yr old alcoholic with a myriad of issues--she's obsessive, compulsive, lonely, self-destructive--you name it.  One day while riding the train to work, she believes she witnesses an event that is important to a murder investigation. Anna, another  character, is a young mother married to Rachel's ex-husband ,Tom, who is a neighbor of Megan, the third  character telling the story.  She is beautiful and seemingly perfect to Rachel who watches her from the train each day. Rachel becomes obsessed with Megan and her husband and her perception of their life.  These three women's lives become intertwined in unimaginable, frightening ways. I don't want to say more than that because I don't want to ruin it for you. I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy, quick read of 336 pages--only a 5k--and worth every step. I didn't figure it out until almost the end which made it even more fun to read. I really loved the ending too--So hop on the train--you'll be glad you did. Also, remember to spread a little kindness today--just say hello.

July 18, 2016 COMFORTABLY NUMB

Ran about 8.5 miles yesterday with my comrades in excruciating heat--okay not Badwater---but HAZY, HOT AND REALLY HUMID. It was a tough run  that called for a stop at a local convenience store to buy a gallon of  cold water to pour over our heads and a  very quick dip in the ocean (JAWS) at the end of the run. It is on runs like this that I am thankful for music. I know there are two trains of thought on music and running--the serious runners believing that if you are tough enough you don't need it--and the wimpy runners including myself--who could never fathom running without music. We started the run without music--talking--laughing about the heat-- but by mile 3 I knew that I needed to turn my music on --hunker down--and just get it done.
People listen to all type of music when they run. My comrades listen to Indie, Reggaeton, Classic Rock-- including Bob Dylan and Van Morrison.  I listen to Pink Floyd probably 90% of the time. When I am on a longer, or slower run, I usually listen to The Final Cut, Wish You Were Here, or Dark Side of the Moon because I can match my pace to the music and it is comfort music from long ago.  If I am running for speed, I always listen to The Wall--side two--my go to song-- Comfortably Numb. I am not sure why, it just gives me the lift I need to run my best.
When I think about music, I inevitably think about Jennifer Egan's Pulitzer Prize winning book of 2011 called A Visit from the Goon Squad. This is an interesting novel that can be read as a collection of short stories or as a novel. I read it as a novel.  The book centers on two main characters, Bennie Salazar, an aging rock music executive, and his assistant Sasha. There are several other supporting characters that appear throughout the book--you might want to keep a list. The story spans 40 years-beginning in the 1960s. It is a story about growing up, growing older and the unexpected turns that life can take. It is also about changes in musical tastes, aging rock stars and the difficulties they faced as the world moved to the digital age. This is a slim book of about 270 pages--well written--so I would call it a 5 miler. It is just a glimpse behind the scenes of the music world. Hope you enjoy---    Longfellow once  said, " Music is the universal language of mankind."----I wholeheartedly agree.

July 16, 2016 DYSFUNCTION JUNCTION

I've been running with the same group of women on and off for several years all over New England including Central Park, Boston, Providence and Hartford. There is one thing about logging many miles together--it builds camaraderie. We know each other well--every idiosyncrasy!! We have laughed AT each other and WITH each other thousands of times. We have shared births, deaths, graduations and the everyday drama of being married for a LOOONNGG time---with kids that NEVER seem to leave.
One of the best parts of the long run is time. What a luxury. We have time to talk and reflect. It's a great opportunity to discuss family dysfunction-- gain a sense of humor-- make peace--and let it go.  Every family has dysfunction, those living in tents, duplexes or even mansions---which is a relief to me --because I thought my family's picture appeared in the dictionary next to the word.  Anyways, when I think of family dysfunction at it's best, I think of Jonathon Tropper's hysterical book, This is Where I Leave You, because frankly, I would rather laugh than cry!! It is the best medicine.
After the death of his father, Judd Foxman and his siblings come back to their childhood home to sit Shiva . Each sibling come complete with baggage including ex-wives, spouses, and disappoint. While sitting Shiva for seven long days, the siblings re-examine their shared history and dysfunction and learn to reconnect and let go of childhood animosity. This is an easy read at about 360 pages---a 5k---with an important message. Although Tropper's book is laugh-out-loud funny, you might learn several lessons about life--if you listen.

July 14, 2016 SHOW ME THE WAY TO GO HOME

  Every August I run a 12 mile race in the blazing heat. The race used to start at 11:00 but organizers decided to change it to 9:00 a few years ago because people were dropping like flies during the run. It is not for the faint of heart. Die hard runners from all over come to this popular race because it honors a local Boston Marathon Winner and it's FREE.  Just so you know--I am not a die hard runner--the first  few times I ran it, my biggest fear was that I would come in last place!! Anyways, this run has become a rite of passage every summer--for better or worse--a tradition I enjoy with my other running friends. Preparing for this race entails running in the heat & humidity. Some runs are reminiscent of Florida in July--you can cut the air with  a knife. On days like this, I have been known to dunk my head in water fountains, beg for water from perfect strangers and even jump in the ocean. Even though jumping in the ocean is refreshing, it is out of character for me. One word sums up why--JAWS.  Believe it or not, I am still afraid of the ocean because of a movie I saw when I was a kid. Every time I get in the water, I hear the music and have to talk myself out of running and screaming. This might sound even crazier, but I still watch the movie every year during Shark Week. My favorite character in the story is Quint, the shark hunter, who survived the USS Indianapolis tragedy.

His Indianapolis speech is unforgettable and led me to read Doug Stanton's book In Harm's Way.
Although this is nonfiction, it is not a dry read. Stanton draws the reader into the story with fluid writing-- you will not be able to put this 400 pager down. It is not a difficult read, probably a 10k in running terms.
Stanton's book is about the top secret mission of the Indianapolis during World War II  to deliver the bomb that was  eventually dropped over Hiroshima. After delivering the bomb, the cruiser was torpedoed in the South Pacific by a Japanese submarine. Stanton's story comes from interviewing  the survivors---only 317 out of the 900 thrown into the shark infested waters. Because the mission was top secret, no one knew. The survivors spent 5 harrowing days in  the water before being rescued.   It is a tragic but important story about the sacrifices made by our servicemen. Don't take our freedom for granted. Thank a veteran  today.

July 12, 2016 BACK IN TIME

After running the 5k -- faster than the speed of light--my body felt tired. The next day I took a  leisurely walk and today I did a very light run.  My legs are still a little sore and I have aches and pains here and there--the consequences of getting older I guess. I won't be starting my speed work  or longer runs  for a few more days because I need  to take time to unwind/rewind before I start pounding the pavement again. This thought brings me  back to the idea of time.  I remember being a kid and watching The Time Machine on channel 56--BELIEVE it or not, we only had 2 CHANNELS-- for the first time. Anyway, Rod Taylor played a scientist who invented a machine that took him back in time. I was glued to the television and have been  captivated by time travel  ever since. I've read at least a dozen books about time travel including The Time Traveler's Wife, Here and Again, Somewhere in Time to name a few, but one really sticks out in my mind. Stephen King's novel 11/22/63.

What an incredible read--winning at least 4 book prizes including the Los Angeles book prize for best thriller/mystery. DO NOT be intimidated by the weight--about 850 pages. This is not a dense book--kind of like a 10k for you runners--you will fly through it because it is an easy, interesting, intense read. King's main character, Jake Epping, meets a man who has found a gate way back to the past. He convinces Jake to go back in time and prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy. King does a great job convincing the reader that it is the sixties--by incorporating relevant facts about the time period including descriptions of  the clothing, prices of items even including newspaper articles that were relevant at the time.  It is also evident that King spent  a great deal of time researching  this tragic event.  Would the world be a better place if JFK had lived?? If Jake saves JFK what are the ramifications for the future--hence the butterfly effect?? These are only some of the themes explored in this great story. Take a leap back in time with 11/22/63. You won't regret it!

July 11, 2016--TIME

Yesterday, I ran a local 5k. I have run this race several times usually placing  between 4th and 8th  in my age group.  I decided to set a goal this year--I was going to place 3rd in my  age group. I was trying to be a realist-- 1st place for me would be impossible, 2nd a dream, but  just maybe I could get a 3rd place medal this year. So I set to work logging extra miles and incorporating more speed work into my runs. I felt pretty good about my chances. After registering for the race 1/2 hour before because of my commitment phobia,  I thought that I ran the race well.  In race terms for me this means running at a good clip for 3.1 miles and feeling like I am going to throw up by the time I cross the finish line. Ran fast-check, felt like throwing up-check, I really thought this might be the year---The elusive medal was finally going to be mine. After checking the times,  I was crushed to discover that I had come in 4th AGAIN--- by ONE SECOND. That was hard to swallow--ONE SECOND!

 Don't worry, I've had time to let it sink in and put it in perspective. It's really not a big deal in the big scheme of things. Right??? It's only time after all. After mulling that one second over and over in my mind, I began to turn it into one minute, one hour, one day and I began to think about the possibilities of time. What would I do with that extra second, minute, hour or day?  Whom would I share it with if it were possible?  This is the premise of Mitch Albom' s short novel entitled For One More Day.  The main character of this book, Charley, comes home one day and gets the opportunity of a lifetime--He gets to spend one more day with his mother-who is dead--imagine having the good fortune to spend one more day with someone you love who is deceased. I am pretty sure it would be a dream come true. One more opportunity to appreciate an important person and really get it!
 The thing about death is it is so final. Never seeing, touching, smelling or hearing that person's voice again. It's an ache no one can feel for you. I'll never forget the last words my grandmother said to me, "I don't know what I'm going to do without you, Marsha, Parsh." I've thought about those 12 words several times over the last  20 odd years. They comfort be.  Albom's story is in an odd way comforting too because it lets the reader enjoy the fantasy of living  out one more second, minute, hour or day with a deceased loved one. That would be worth more than a 1000 medals----but don't worry, I'll be trying for 3rd place again next year!

July 10, 2016-----COMMITMENT PHOBIA

I have a deep rooted fear of commitment. I call it Commitment Phobia. I am not sure if it is recognized by the American Medical Association---but it should be. When I looked up commitment phobia on the internet, I got all kinds of definitions most having to do with fear of intimacy and making emotional connections. That isn't the type of phobia I'm referring to. I suffer from making commitments about  every day things including attending  a party, wedding, lunch, dinner--even  registering for a race.  I don't like to sign up for a race ahead of time because that turns it into a commitment. I am the person registering for every race a half an hour before it starts. I think commitment give me anxiety.
I know you are wondering what this could possibly have to do with reading, but in my case it does. Believe it or not,  sometimes I have difficulty committing to books. These are usually longer books that I know will take a big chunk of time-- like a 20 mile run for the runners out there.  This happened to me the first time I read,  A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. When I first looked at it, I was a little intimidated  by the girth --a little over 600 dense pages.  In addition to that, I was a put off by the size of the font--it's a little smaller than I like. It is also about India--what did I know about India at the time--don't worry--today I love stories from all over the world--especially India. The only reason I took the plunge was because the back cover said, "A compassionate realism and narrative sweep that recall the work of Charles Dickens." Any writer compared to Dickens is well worth the time and effort to me.

Slums of India

This is a beautifully written story that centers around 4 main characters -Dina, Maneck, Ishvar and Omprakash  during the 1970's. Although they are from various backgrounds, these four strangers are forced to live together due to circumstances beyond their control. In many ways it is a tragic story about the caste system and injustices done to people based on a structure of society that seems prehistoric. It is also a story of friendship and love. This is a book that I reflect on often and have reread a few times because the writing is fluid and beautiful.  I love the characters too.  If I were you though, I would make a list of them because there are many people in the story and they are all connected in some way. Someone you meet in the first few chapters will appear later in the novel because it has a circular plot much like a traditional Dickens' novel. Give it a try. Take it from a commitment phobic person-- it is  well worth it!

July 8, 2016 YOU'RE SO VAIN

When I first started running it was about staying in shape--maintaining my weight. It was actually the first and only New Year's resolution I had ever made. I was 35 and started to notice that it wasn't as easy to maintain my weight and since I am an extremely vain person, I decided to get moving. Over the years though, running has become so much more. I do some of my best thinking when I am out running-- my creative juices flow. I have worked out and  written several plays, short stories, poems, and screenplays. I have also worked out thousands of lesson plans for school and relieved a lot of stress and anxiety too. Running (or regular exercise in any form) is a great way to channel anxiety, fear, addiction, depression, family dysfunction-whatever. This reminds me of Smithy Ide, the main character of The Memory of Running, by Ron McLarty.

 Smithy is an over-weight, depressed, chain-smoking, drinker who works in a G.I.  Joe factory assembling action figures. He is a loser. One drunken night after a horrific tragedy, Smithy decides to get on his old bicycle and ride  across the country to California to find his long lost sister. This is a remarkable story, it is heartwarming, and hilarious, but most of all it is hopeful. On his journey, Smithy not only loses weight, he finds himself again and reconciles his lost childhood. He meets plenty of great characters along the way too and learns many great lessons.   Another  great thing about this book is that it is set in Rhode Island.  Anyone from New England will recognize the terrain as he pedals from state to state. There is even  a character in the story who works at Benny's. Who doesn't love this store--one stop shopping. I can buy a toaster, a fishing pole, towels, and a new shirt in one store--Quintessential New England!

July 7, 2016 THE HEAT IS ON

One of the great things about running is being outside. Living in New England, I get to watch the seasons change. Fall is a great time to run because the leaves are turning from green to reds, to oranges and finally browns. The weather gets cooler indicating the inevitable coming of winter which is a tougher time to run.  Even though winter running is difficult, it is well worth it.  I love running right after it snows, the air is cleaner and the world looks pure. It is absolutely beautiful--as long as the wind is calm. By March I have had enough  though  and   I  look forward to the crocus  and daffodils who brave the cold and I know that spring is right around the corner-also one of my favorite times to run. Summer is also a beautiful time of year to run until it gets humid. The past few days have been HAZY, HOT AND HUMID-the worst kind of running weather for me.  On my run today, as sweat poured down my face, I thought of this great book I read a few years back called To the Edge: A Man Death Valley and The Mystery of Endurance, by Kirk Johnson.

 It's the true story of journalist Kirk Johnson, a man who never ran a marathon in his life, who signs up to do the Badwater--a 135 mile ultra marathon that runs through California's Death Valley in the summer where temperatures reach 135 degrees. Johnson runs the race as a way to cope with the death of his brother. It is an interesting read, especially, given the fact that Johnson was not an athlete and set his mind to run one of the toughest races in the world. It is a testament to love, family, endurance and the human condition--it's really not about the run. If you are looking for inspiration, this is the book for you--at only about 300 pages--a mere 4 mile run--it will do wonders for your psyche. I guarantee it!

July 6, 2016 TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

 I decided not to run yesterday. I've been running too much because it's summer. Remember I'm a teacher--believe me, that is the only perk. Anyways, sometimes too much of a good thing becomes a grind and I never want to feel that way about running. Hence, a rest day for all of you runners.
 The same thing can happen with reading but in a different way. Sometimes I have to take a little time off between books-- I have trouble moving on because the characters become important to me. The writing is so  beautiful that I feel as though I know each character personally. I can still remember the names of many of the characters in my favorite books. Pip, Estella and Miss Havisham are memorable characters from one of my favorite books Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.  I am a huge Dickens fan because--he could essentially bring a whole world to life-vividly-before the advent of television. His descriptive writing and understanding of people transports me back in time. I leave my own life and live in another world when I read his books. It's only about 450 pages but a bit of a dense read so I will call it a half-marathon--worth every step!

July 4, 2016 CH CH CH CH CHANGES

Reading and relatives are also similar. Some relatives are great fun, easy to love-- while others require a terminal amount of patience-- we have to dig deep. Same goes for books right?  There is a major difference between the two though--- reading conjures up memories of relatives--these can be good or bad but relatives hopefully don't conjure up reading???

Anyways, this leads me to my first book review.  I am currently reading The Girl Who Fell From The Sky, by Heidi W. Durrow. This book was published in 2010 and won the Bellwether prize for fiction. It's an easy read at only 264 pages--a mere 5K for all of you runners. This novel is about a young girl of Danish and African American descent, who after a family tragedy, is forced to move to a new city to live with her  African American Grandmother. It is about navigating in a "new" world, in this case a world where she is expected to "act black."
I feel a connection to this book because at a young age I was thrust into a "new" world too. I had to navigate my way in a new family with a new set of rules. Talk about adaptation!
 This is why books are so wonderful. You never know what you're going to get. In this case another chance to think about and understand an event that changed my life--forever.

Reading and running have a lot in common. Sometimes the run is arduous--even painful--- and other times it is light and easy. The same rule applies to reading. Sometimes I enjoy an easy, fun read, but I have to say my favorite books are a little more challenging because I love a well-written book.

July 3, 2016 INTRODUCTIONS PLEASE.......

I have been in love with reading my whole life. I remember when my grandmother bought me a copy of Charlotte's Web in Fourth grade-- I stayed up half the night because I had to know what happened to Wilbur and Charlotte. E.B. White,  Beverly Clearly and Judy Blume were paramount to my childhood. I must have read Are You There God, It's Me Margaret a dozen times. Margaret became a great friend to me. I learned many lessons from not only her but the characters in every book. Books so influenced my life, that I try to share this life long love with my students as an English teacher.

As an adult, I find the characters in books more interesting than most people. Don't get me wrong, I have many friends but I long and feel most content when enveloped in a great book.

Since I am a well-known book worm, people constantly come to me for book recommendations. Among my family and friends, I have developed a reputation as a well-read person of quality literature.  Friends affectionately refer to me as their "book dealer;" someone they trust to help them navigate the often overwhelming variety of choices in the book world.  I've decided to start a blog to make it easier to share my recommendations and thoughts about the books I read.

My hope is that you find this blog not only helpful; but more importantly, I hope it inspires you to want to find a cozy corner where you can curl up with a great novel and pass the day.