Essay #2

I'd like to start by saying that since I've become a "grown up," I don't like to read! I know that this totally contradicts what I said in my earlier posts, (about how I LOVED to read as a child) but it's true. I don't know why the change occurred, but I think it happened around the time I went to Junior High. Therefore, I am very embarrassed to report that the only things I've read lately that WERE NOT "assigned" readings are magazines, newspaper articles (online), online sports articles, and on occasion, The Bible. I have not voluntarily read "a good book" in I don't know how long. I did read a book over Christmas break called "Teenagers Are People Too!" by Joyce Meyer. It wasn't a book I picked up to read for "enjoyment" though; I read it as a "self help" type-thing (I have a 15 year old son who I'm trying to understand better!!!). Anyways, I felt starting from the present and going back made sense for this post.
As I said before, reading was encouraged in my home when I was a child. My parents, grandparents, and my aunt bought me books all of the time (I still have SEVERAL of them). Like Susan said, I too received money for Scholastic book orders, but I ordered books because I could and because I loved to read. I don't remember my parents reading too much more than the newspapers and their Bibles though... So I didn't "learn" to read from example; I just had my own passion for it.
But it wasn't until I read the book "Charolette's Web" by E.B. White, that I was ever so moved. The first time I read the book I was in the fourth grade. I chose to read it for a book report. I had to do a "project" about it, so I used a box bottom (like the ones you get from Costco when you buy like a 36 pack) decorated it like a pig pen with dirt, grass, sticks (for fencing), and little figurines, and ended up winning first place for it! It was displayed in the library for all to see!! Although the project itself was fun and rewarding, I don't think I would have ever got that "into it" if I hadn't fallen in LOVE with the book itself. The feeling I had when reading "Charolette's Web" was one that I have only experienced a few more times, but that time was special, because it was my first!!!