I've forgotten how to read

Books, anyway.

My reading habit used to rival my scrapbooking habit. In fact there was a time where I belonged to a book of the month club, where every trip to the store resulted in me coming home with new books, and I even read books from the Oprah book club.

Then I had a baby. Instead of reading books, I replaced my habit with short bursts of reading. All I had stamina for was magazine articles, blog posts and the monthly electric co-op newsletter. While we're on the subject, this was the time I also gave up must see TV. I currently watch NO prime time TV. The only TV I watch is news, Top Chef (if the stars align and I can sit for an hour), and Disney channel. The latter I don't so much watch as hear.

After Little d got a little older, and slept through the night, I became human again. I worked on her baby scrapbook, I picked up watching TV again and even, gasp, began reading books again. I think it was during this time that I read "The Lovely Bones" and "The Dogs of Babel." Two of my favorite books. Then Little d got even older, and suddenly I realized that much of must see TV, she must NOT see. Sheesh. Have times changed! I used to watch soap operas as a kid with my mom, but now, even commercials are risky!

Anyway, then I had another baby. And well, the reading, she's a-missing again. So a few weeks ago when I had my gum surgery, I looked around WalMart for some reading material. I didn't even know how to look for a good book. I don't usually care for westerns, romance, or mystery. There was a time I liked mystery, but after working as a cop, hmmm, the Mystery is gone. And in high school and college I read Danielle Steele, but wow, those books follow the SAME formula every single time! I tried to pick one of her new ones up as an adult, and literally could not get through it.

I usually read the back and if it sounds ORIGINAL or funny I'll read the first page. If I'm hooked or intrigued by the first sentence, it's a keeper. Anyway, on that day I couldn't seem to find one for whatever reason so I grabbed two that didn't look completely heinous. The day after my surgery I tried to read them. And I Couldn't.

At first I thought, 'Oh they are just bad books.' But then two days ago I picked one up again and realize it's not that bad. I needed to give it a chance. And that's when I realized books are not like the short bursts of reading I usually do. They develop and grow. They take longer to read than two minutes.

I need to learn how to read all over again.