Visiting Old Friends

Oh, that I had the time! But there is a help for that, so that I can revisit those that moved me, changed me and those that introduced me to life-long friends. 

Before I could read, I had my aunt and mother read and reread many favorite stories and books to me. Even then, if a book really spoke to me, I liked the characters, I loved the way the words were put together, I wanted to keep hearing them. 

Indeed, I read some of those on my own, and to my nieces, sons, and grandchildren. 

As I write this, I now accept the reason as to why I have taken to listening to good, (that is well-read), audiobooks. 

I do enjoy reading. I enjoy picking up on the words, getting lost in the story, or the way the writer uses words. I stop and savor well-written scenes or passages, lines. or even a well-chosen word that gives true meaning to the feelings the writer wanted to relate, 

and succeeded. 

Re-reading, or now as is often the case, listening to books that I have read and loved, lets me do one of two things: concentrate on the writing skills of the authors when they had me caught up in the story the first time I read them, or conversely, delve deeper into the minutiae of relationships or meanings when I was too busy enjoying the way the story was coming together in words.  

My mother was generally quite protective of me, but she allowed me to read a rather adult novel when I was 16. She told me that I needed to reread it when I was older, (I have not done so as yet). I understand why, as I am actually glad that I did not read The Secret Garden, Mary Poppins, and a few other works for children until I was an adult, as I got so much more out of them looking from an adult POV, as I probably would not have revisited them had I read them as a child; I probably would not have really enjoyed the stories. 

Revisiting certainly goes for the Narnia books, which I listen to every couple of years. I listened to the entire Harry Potter series two years ago after having relished the books in hand. I have listened to the Lord of the Rings books, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books, the works of Robert Louis Stevenson and others which I have read, maybe even more than once. 

I can do all of this while doing practically mindless work; 

 I’ve always been good at multitasking. 

(My nieces were pestering me once when I said, “Give me a few minutes, I’m doing five things right now.” My mother, a descendant of the Romans, said, “What, you aren’t Julius Caesar? It was said that he could do seven things at one time.” I said, “You’re the one who thinned down the blood! Five is doing pretty good, I think!” I made her laugh.) 

Not that I don’t actually re-read some. “The Bishop’s Beggar” and other shorter, deep stories, poetry and and some religious works. I know that I will think of quite a number as soon as I post this, but I am really running behind.  

Do I re-read stories close to my heart? Yes, Do I revisit them in audiobooks? I am grateful for those. Do many some to mind, come to heart on their own? 

Definitely.

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