I do not make a lot of room in my life for books. Children's books-- yes, but other sorts, other than cook books or craft books or whatever-- no. If I were to explain this to 9 or 14 or even 22 year-old me, I would expect that they would sit in shock for a moment while their eyes welled up with tears of disbelief and sadness. I have consoled myself over the last few years that there will be a time, very soon, when reading for joy will be just that, joyful, and not something to try and fit in when I've exhausted other options. I have read some very good books this last year or two (and two really not good ones), but it's felt a bit like cheating on the rest of my life. Sad, but true.
I've been thinking about this a good amount, and wondering what to do exactly, and then Molly's book showed up in the post this morning. Molly-- now there's a girl worth cheating for. So, while the babies were sleeping and Sam had his mouth full for a minute (he's at that crazy don't-stop-to-take-a-breath-I-have-so-much-to-say-out-loud stage), I put on the Frances tapes and said very quietly, "bud, I'd love it if we could just sit and be together quietly for a little while. Is that all right?" He said that it would be okay, maybe, if he could have more granola and milk and, uh, a small candy cane.
I made it to page 55.
Then, while acting as passenger on our couch plane, and right before he pointed above my head to the blank wall and said, "Mrs., do you see that sign? It says books are dangerous when you're flying, so put it away. Thank you", I got right up to Coconut Macaroons, recipes and all.
I love good stories and I love good food and Molly knows how to pull out both. There is this deep, hilarious chasm between people who love to write and people who love to write and do it well-- A Homemade Life falls soundly into the latter category and it makes me yearn to put books and reading and taking great pleasure out of both, back into my life.
Thank you, Molly.
(I'll be at Powell's tomorrow, but the whole list of signings and appearances are here. Totally, totally jealous that I won't be hangin' in Oklahoma City with the Huffsters, so if you're there, give Hannah a little good game smack and tell her it's from me.).
