Knight in Shining Armor

So I have a husband, and I must say, he's pretty terrific, a knight in shining armor.  And given that fact that yes, indeed, he is a boy, (which means he's all testosterone controlled) I have to say, he's a great husband.   I know I touched on it here (do you like my link?  Isn't that waaaay cool?  I'm so pleased with myself) but I just thought since I wrote a blog on my wonderful books *sigh* I would expand on it.  Let me give you some background info.

Back in February 1998 I split up with my ex-husband.  I think it would suffice to say I was extremely devastated.  Not that it was a great marriage, but it was all I had, it was my security blanket.  So after a month or so, I kinda dated, nothing serious.  More like hanging out alone with the opposite sex.  After a few more months I decided to just be celibate and not even bother dating.  I distinctly remember driving down the street in my '91 maroon Ford Aerostar and I was praying as I drove.  Ok, really, I was challenging God.  I told him, in no uncertain terms would I settle for anything less than...and then I proceed to make a HUGE list.  And then I said, "And he has to have good teeth too."  It was kinda like "HA!  Try and get me THAT kind of man."

Um...yeah...don't do that.  God LAUGHS at our challenges towards him.  I'm sure I was the joke of the day.  I can just hear Him say, "LOLOLOL (Do you think God talks in Texting?)  Mandy, Mandy, Mandy.  You silly girl.  Don't you know who I Am?"

So, only a few months later, I was forced (yes, forced) to go on a blind date.  And then, Billy met Mandy...and the rest is history. 

Or at least another blog for another time.

My love affair...

My closest friends know only too well my love of books. The smell of them, the feel of the paper on a really old book, the secret worlds found inside.  I had a brief love affair with the library when I was out of work. I would reserve the books online, but then spend hours browsing thru the shelves, wandering around, touching and inhaling the perfume of the library.

I have spent countless hours reading. In times of stress, my books are my comfort.  My back hallway is lined on one side with books, a gift from hubby who knows all too well of my love for books. If I ever win the lottery, I'll buy my own bookstore and build my own library in my house.  Oh books, how I love thee.

My favorite authors?  Stephen King-hands down. Something about him gets me every time. His darkness.  A lot of his stuff is about good vs evil and the journey through.

Anne Rice-the original vampire series that caught my heart. Louis, Claudia, Armand, Pandora and of course, Lestat. Oh Lestat.  You're so good in all your badness.

But there are so many more authors that I love. They have moved me, jerked my feelings around, made me love their characters as if I knew them in real life and were my most beloved friends and lovers.  Grieving with them, laughing with them, loving with them.

I've read most of the classics...When I was a young teenager, one of my aunts gave me a book from her own cherished library, well, unintentionally. I was only supposed to borrow her Jane Austen books, but after a couple of years of forgetting them (I didn't see her often) I finally remembered to bring them while visiting her, but seeing the loss on my face when handing them over, she let me keep them. They are so very old. They were old when she gave them to me.  And they have that smell. That intoxicating old book smell.  The paper is yellow and a little brittle now, the page binding coming apart. You can't just read those books, no, you need to touch them and smell their sweet perfume, caress them, hold them to your heart when you finish reading them.

Books are my comfort. A cherished friend, a warm place to go on a cold night.

They have always been a solace to me. During my childhood, I read any book I found laying around, including my Mom's Harlequin romance books.  During my divorce, I could read a book a day.  Once a week, I would walk about 2 miles to the public library, 3 small babies in tow, and check out about 10 books at a time.  They have brought me through some very tough times.    

And I love discovering a new author.  I know if I like one of their books, I’ll like their others.  

And I like to buy the book.  Some thing it’s a waste, because you read it once and you’re done.  But I have some of my favorites, that I’ve read over and over and over.  A really good book will have layers and if you read it again, after some time has past, you’ll see new things and the experience is all the richer.  

I told you, I really love books.