Books have always been a huge part of my life. I’ve always been surrounded by them. Shelves upon shelves. I was desperately to learn how to read and I haven’t stopped reading and writing since I managed it.

For Christmas my mother used to get my sister and me gift certificates to our favourite local bookstore. I would walk around and around, exploring the shelves and waiting for something to call me over. I grew from my Nancy Drew’s and Babysitter’s Clubs to Michael Chrichton and John Grisham. (I remember being totally absorbed in The Client, I couldn’t put it down).

I love walking around bookstores, looking at all the shelves and stacks and featured books. I love the feeling that a book has found you. I still remember the moment that I was in the Chapters in Belleville, where I was going to college, and this book with a turquoise and pink cover caught my eye. I read the description, got thoroughly confused and promptly bought it and the second book in the series. Jasper Fforde is now seven books in to the Thursday Next series and I have read and re-read them all.

Yesterday, after being cooped up in the house for days and days with a sick kid, I went out to pick up her prescription and took the opportunity to head to Chapters for a few minutes to be by myself and out for a while.

While I was there I had the pleasure of not one but two books choosing me. One for the kid, and one for me.

I really truly love getting deep into a book and not wanting to stop, slowing down at the end because you don’t want it to be over.

I went a few years when I wasn’t reading very much. Other things took over. Last year I re-discovered reading as an enjoyable pastime. I want the kid to see us reading. Right now she loves surrounding herself with books and I love watching her flip through them, making up stories from her memory and the pictures.

I picture us down the road, Mommy, Daddy and Kid, hanging out with our books around the fireplace. That’s a good image.