Save the Books

As I write these thoughts for people to read online, I am hoping that electronic devices never cause the extinction of books. You know, paper and ink. I especially love hardcovers. I'm in love with books, period. I read my favorites so many times I can quote them; The Hobbitt, Fablehaven, Great Expectations and reference of all kinds including nature or travel books loaded with photos that allow us to experience every thing the world has to offer from a park bench. As a kid, I read the encyclopedia from A to Z and a dictionary that almost outweighed me. And before I could crack the magical code, my long-suffering sister read to me. I would wiggle with intolerable anticipation while waiting to see the dog party in "Go, Dog. Go!"
And then came that ingenius invention, the bookstore cafe'. When I walk into Barnes and Noble I'm immediately intoxicated by the combined scents of books, coffee and baking cookies. I never want to leave! No wonder you find people sleeping in the armchairs. Maybe they are being educated by osmosis.  Do you think they would notice if I brought in a cot and my cats?
Books look beautiful in a room, they feel good to hold and did I mention the smell? There are many advantages to the new paperless world but if books ever become extinct, please bury me with the last one!

Worth the Wait

When I was a kid, before the days of the internet and video recorders (yes, there was such a time) I would wait eagerly all year to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. I was mesmerized by Tom Turkey, the Garfield balloon and Santa in his snow goose sleigh. We also had to wait all year for "Miracle on 34th Street" and I envied the little girl in the movie for living on the parade route. That movie was worth watching even if only to see Santa whack that smug shrink with his cane. If you had the tragic misfortune to miss those holiday specials, you had to resign yourself to a year of waiting.
This year, I missed the parade on Thanksgiving, but the next day on my way home from work I saw a cloud formation that bore a remarkable resemblance to a line of parade animal balloons, (see photo below). I clearly saw a baby elephant, whale, snail, duck and rabbit.  Or maybe my imagination is just over developed from reading "The Hobbit" one too many times.
Instead of settling for and marrying the first schlep we meet, sometimes it pays to wait for the person we want. Chocolate needs time to ferment and I assume croissants require time to rise (I don’t know because they sound way too difficult to make).
I believe that in this world of instant gratification, some things are just worth the wait.