This post is a one-photo post – the rarest of the rare. An albino giraffe. One photo. And I took awhile to pick it out:
Sometimes I think about the books that used to make me sob into my pillow at night.Just a mere thought. “Where the Red Fern Grows” hit me so hard that when my teacher, Miss Kennedy, put on the movie version in class, I bolted out of my seat and out of the classroom and out of the hallway, just so I wouldn’t have to hear a second of it. If we’re being honest, she must have thought I had diarrhea or something. I would NEVER run out of a classroom without permission, or at least a hall pass! There were also several Babysitter’s Club and Sweet Valley books that did it too.
I swear I only learned how to walk so that I could reach for books. I only learned how to talk so that I could ask for books. When I’m eating a meal with other people, I cross my legs in my chair and busy my hands because otherwise they’ll be reaching for books. I know how to rest (sort of) and I know how to relax (in odd ways) and I know how to dwell and I know how to STAY, but when I want to escape, I have one thing on my mind – and that’s books. (or magazines, Hallmark movies, and a good hug and kiss, but that’s a story for another day) Reading makes me escape. Dream. Imagine. Weep. Laugh. FEEL.
Alive.In high school, I used to sleep at my friend Rachel’s house with my other friend, Jessi. Jessi and I have been friends since 4th grade and still remain close to this day. Rachel had a children’s book called “I’ll Always Love You” by Hans Wilhelm tucked into her bookshelf. It’s a book about a little boy who gets a puppy and they grow up together. The dog gets older and older and eventually dies. The little boy is sad but he had said, “I’ll always love you” to his dog every night of the dog’s life.
Rachel and Jessi found me huddled in the corner of Rachel’s bedroom sobbing one night because I had found the book and read it. And I mean full on convulsing. It became a thing that every time we went to Rachel’s house, we’d both read the book to make ourselves cry. We were masochists, apparently. I forgot about that book after Rachel and I drifted apart.
In fact, I might never have remembered it until…I was having a particularly bad day with our elderly Husky, Stormy. We had spent the morning doing errands and then I drove Cassidy to work downtown and got myself a delicious egg and cheese sandwich for breakfast. Back at home, Stormy had the nerve to steal half of the sandwich right in front of me. I was so mad and while I was shouting and trying to get her to go outside, she ate the other half. In front of me. I was fuming. And I couldn’t believe the nerve. I went to work and I was muttering about it and balling my hands into fists. People probably thought I was insane. Oh, wait! This was The Haight in San Francisco. Never mind. I fit right in looking crazy. Anyway, I should have gotten over it fast but I didn’t for hours.
It wasn’t until I got home and found a package in the mail slot. I pulled out a book that had a post-it note that said, “Open Me” and had a drawn on smiley face on the cover. It was the book, “I’ll Always Love You.” I read maybe one page of it and burst into tears and hugged Stormy repeatedly. The book was sent by Jessi and it was truly a gift in every sense of the word. I got over that egg sandwich episode very fast. I’ll never get over the feeling, though. I don’t know that I’d want to either.
I miss that crazy old, egg sandwich-stealing lady. Mostly, I miss Cassidy with her. I’ll always love you.I’m linking up, as one of my favorite things to do, with Finish The Sentence Friday or #FTSF. This week’s topic is
“Reading makes me…” And there’s time to write yours. Come link up with your spin on the matter:
HERE.
What would you say?
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So I never did read “Where the Red Fern Grows”. But like you books have been my life for so long. Although recently I went through a dry spell and lost my reading mojo. True Story and then like a drought I finally came out of it. When I did wow and look out for the book reading that took place. And now I feel on fire again for reading. So, love that we have reading in common, too my friend <3
You were born reading. Really.
Where the red fern grows and Old Yeller always hit me where it counts. However, there was a particular book that I remember making me soak my pillows in my own tears as I read it. It was called “The One Eyed Cat” and it made me cry harder than any book before it.
Loved red fern… remember reading it when my daughter brought it home. She ate and breathed books from when she was born, and she still does. She challenges me to read more! Not sure which book I would say made me cry the most, but I love when a book touches my heart.
How have I never read Red Ferm??? Added to library list already. Great story. I love how there are always books that define moments and memories in our lives. Great story.
Is that photo edited, or is that cat seriously that humongous??
I had to go see what you meant! ha! It’s a dog! A husky. She was definitely that humongous.
Ok it all makes more sense now. It just so much looked like a cat yo me. Haha
I used to love watching award shoes with my Mom, we would ooh and ahh at the dresses, and I always got a kick out of my Mom saying a male actor was attractive. I don’t know why but it seemed so off limits, she was such a rebel. lol I love that you let the girl join in on the fun, they will always remember it. 🙂
Sorry this was supposed to post to another article. So sorry about that Tamara
Look at that big baby! I wish all dogs let you carry them like that.
Where the Red Fern Grows made me cry like a baby! I haven’t read it to my kids because I think I’ll cry too much and not get through it. Maybe on audiobook? Books are life aren’t they!
Awww I love this Finish This Sentence. It reminds me of my very first dog, he was so sweet and a devil at times. It also reminds me of the quote “don’t sweat the small stuff”. BTW I love that photo!
Aw! This makes me miss my dog Chief. He stole an entire chicken once and ate it all.He had to eat rice and ground beef for days because of the chicken bones. Argh I miss him. He was a white shepherd. I love this post and am so glad you linked up! xoxo
I LOVED reading Babysitter Club books as a kid. I even still have some of them. I always dreamed I would have a daughter that would read them and love them as much as I did as a kid. I now have a daughter but it will be a few years before she is ready to read a Babysitter Club book. ☺
Well, now I need to read “Where The Red Fern Grows”… I never did. Shame. I’m getting it ASAP.
I love that you love books, and this is THE sweetest story EVER. And that picture just sucker punched me in the gut. It’s sob-worthy alone.
My sister’s dog once stole my subway and I was SO HUNGRY and SO PISSED. We still- to this day, laugh about how pissed I was. I mean, THE NERVE.
I’ve never had a dog. This makes me want one to love, just like you.
I’m like you with books, I can’t go more than a day without reading a book. (I seem to have passed that onto Eve!) And I have had a few books that have really stuck with me or filled me with such intense emotions.
Well, we had a sandwich stealing doggie too and we loved Arthur so dang much. I’d give anything for him to still be here stealing sandwiches. As far as reading goes, I love how books take us away and make us feel things. I love reading–but I also love talking about the books I read and am thrilled to be at a table around other people who feel exactly the same way. Maybe we’ll be at the same table someday.
Books are one of the greatest gifts to the world. I don’t know what I’d do without them!
Love this! I think I can relate so much because reading and books have been a part of my life since I was a kid. My favorite book as a kid was a herbal book that contains different plants from A-Z with their scientific names. LOL. Then I remember hoarding my classmate’s Sweet Valley books because her sister has so many of them, while I couldn’t afford them. Books have so much sentimental value that I can’t let go of mine.
This is beautiful. I cried over many a book as a child, Charlotte’s Web was I think the first one that broke my young heart. Then on from there…
I can tell from your writing that you are a reader, you capture a moment so well.
I love where the Red Fern Grows, but I could only read it once. Hmmm. what else made me cry as a child. Just about any book with animals. They always get you! Our Zoe used to steal Twizzlers and banana bread. Waiting to see what Eddie’s vice is. So far, he is not a fan of vegetables.
It’s always great to meet another book lover. The fellowship of book lovers… we diehards are drawn to books from our first waking moments, and it’s a love affair that never dies. Books rule!