Reading

I think a key component of living a healthy life is reading. Yes, reading! A book, a magazine, newspapers, an e-book, whatever. And holding a real book in your hand, a Kindle or a Nook. It doesn't matter. I don't know what I would do if I didn't read. Some of my earliest memories are going to the local library with my mother and going into the Children's section and seeing all those books and checking out as many as you wanted. I can still see the two ladies that worked there-Mrs. Doane and Mrs. Ford, sitting behind the desk and checking me out. They are long gone now but not those wonderful memories.

And I loved reading all those Hardy Boy books in junior high. Some days I would take a book home, lie on my bed and read the whole book and return it the next morning. I don't know when I did my homework that night. And I used some of my lawn mowing money to join a Sports Book Club where I would get a different biography every month.

One of life's pleasures is just walking into a book store and walking around, browsing all the books. I love history, biography and thrillers. We are fortunate to have 3 book stores in Newburyport, including one used book store. And how about the Newburyport Library? I think its a national treasure. The people that work there, the programs, the features, and all those books. Wow. What a place!

Former President Truman's daughter Margaret was once asked what her father's definition of Heaven was. She said something to the effect it was having a stack of new history or biography books on the table, next to his favorite chair. I think I would agree with him! Just add a cup of coffee and a fireplace to go with it!

And former Prime Minister of Israel, Shimon Peres, said, " I know there are good books and bad books. It can be fiction or nonfiction. It can be philosophy. It can be history. Really, when it comes to books, it is its value, its depth. You make an acquaintance with a book as you do with a person. After ten or fifteen pages, you know with whom you have to deal. When you have a good book, you really have something of importance. Books are as important as friends and maybe more so. Because all of us are living in very limited circles, books enable us to run away from them." Great advice!

Many of us waste too much time each week, watching television or surfing the internet. Skip a tv show and read a book. Try keeping a book by your bedside table and read 15-30 minutes a night before you go to sleep and read a few hours during the weekend. You will be surprised at how many books you can finish this way. I read about a couple of dozen books a year this way.

I hope to see you browsing the shelves in the Newburyport Library. Thanking you for your time, this time, until next time. Regards, FRAN