Lightening the (Book) Load

In my last blog post, I mentioned, among other things, that in my about-to-be acquired nomadic lifestyle, I'll have no designated spot to place my library books. My friend, Dixie, (undoubtedly the most avid book lover I know) expressed concern--no--alarm at the fact that a life spent roving would mean that (gasp!) I'd not only have to lighten my book load, but that, without an address, I would not have a library card! Who in their right mind would voluntarily choose a life devoid of literary delights?

Dixie's question was one upon which I'd been reflecting (okay--obsessing) deeply. I, too, love to read, although I am not nearly as much a collector of books as Dixie, whose comfy-cozy home has numerous bookshelves all overflowing with much-loved reads. On my part, my aversion to clutter and my frugal nature generally means that my thirst for literature has been quenched by the library rather than the bookstore. Of course, this means that the books I do (er...did) own were ones that passed the test that catapulted them from borrowing to ownership status and earned the coveted position of permanent placement on my bookshelf. And believe me, a book had to be damn good to be given this honor.

The paring down of my books has been a four step process. Two years ago, when we sold the Victorian, I eliminated many volumes. With this most recent endeavor, on the first run-through, I eliminated about half of what I had. A few days later, I went through the remaining pile of about 15 books. Many of them were business and marketing books, each with a nugget or two that I planned to implement in my wedding officiating business. With a shrug, I finally acknowledged that my business has been steadily growing over the years without utilizing these strategies, and I'm going to be traveling too much to really take the time to implement them anyway. Besides, if I haven't done anything with them by now...So, out they went.

I left myself with three books:

The Pink House--probably an unremarkable story to most, except for the fact that it is the first book I ever experienced being read aloud (to and by my mother when I was about 12 or 13). It instituted in me a love of reading aloud and being read to that continues to this day, I love being read to--especially by someone I love. It allows me to not only delve into the story, but also hear the familiar voice of someone I care about in the process. Someone who reads well aloud is worth their weight in gold.

Whispers of Inspiration--a collection of poems that I refer to often, not only because they are beautiful, but because a contributor is one of my oldest and most beloved friends. I'd forgotten that Bob had inscribed a note to me on the inside cover when he gave it to me years ago. When packing up my books, I spied his familiar left-handed scrawl and it made me smile. Thanking God for the gift of longtime friends, I put the book into the "keep" pile.

The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted and Other Small Acts of Liberation--this one has twofold significance. First of all, any woman who has ever dieted will appreciate the enormity of the sentiment expressed in the title. But more important, the last story in the book, Sin City, has special meaning to me. The story is about a woman who musters the courage to step out of her comfort zone and seek out a new and exciting life. (Sound familiar?) The fictional woman's name in the story is Rita Thompson. That was also my mother's name (minus the "p"). I read the story for the first time (knowing neither the plot nor the main character's name when I began it) the day after my mom's funeral. A message from the Universe? Not an ounce of doubt in the world. That book goes where I go.

And as for my thirst for additional reading material? There are always e-readers and downloadable audiobooks, used bookstores and the borrowing of library cards of others when I am in their neck of the woods. I am not concerned. Also, I tend to read less when I'm exploring new places. And I intend to do lots of exploring!

In a pinch, I can always Skype Dixie and have her read to me!


Maureen Thomson and Jeremy Myers are a husband and wife team offering professional housesitting services worldwide. Visit our HouseSitting Couple website for more information.