Sometimes I wonder what happened to the little girl that I was. I wonder if the eight year old me would recognize herself in who I've become. Usually I think these thoughts in big grandiose ways. But when I catch sight of myself being the same little girl, it's not in the big ways, it's in the funny little things. I find myself doing the same things that vexed my parents ages ago and I know that those little pieces are just me, they are just the way I am.
At eight years old (and up) I would read. A lot. Not all the time, but when I got into a book, that was it. Forget about getting me to do anything until it was finished. Sometimes I would stay up way past my older sister reading until one of my parents came in and made me turn off the light. And rarer still, I would be so into a book like this*, that I just couldn't sleep. So I would turn the light back on and read until I couldn't hold my eyes open or until I finished the book. Now that I'm grown, I don't have people to remind me that I need my sleep and must put the book down. (Well, we all have those little voices, but I enjoy defying those voices every once in a while.) Sometimes I just cannot help staying up until the wee hours reading an enjoyable book*. And just like my 8 yr old self, I am paying the price today. But I know that when I get home tonight and I will get to read more of the book. I'm sure that the eight year old that I was would recognize that part of who I am now. Well that and the peanut butter & jelly sandwich I ate for lunch.
*Hey, I said that they were enjoyable books, not literary masterpieces. I clearly remember staying up until 2am when I was 8 or 9 reading the first book and crying throughout it. What can I say? I was sucker for melodramatic books. Still am.
I *totally* know what you mean. My sis and I were really into the kids-with-serious-illnesses books. And they had names like "Six Months to Live" and "When Dreams Shatter." GEEZ.
And hooray for enjoyable books!
Posted by: Carrie | September 28, 2005 at 05:33 AM
I love all the Jennifer Weiner books. When I travelled for work I read them on planes. Perfect plane material! I used to have my mom buy me books and I'd devour them in one day when I was little. I'm pretty much the same way.
Posted by: biglug | September 28, 2005 at 06:43 AM
Yeah, if I start reading a book, I find it hard to stop and go to sleep. I always want to find out what happens next. Sometimes I just read the whole book through.
Posted by: Ken | September 28, 2005 at 06:50 AM