WAY OFF TOPIC! Down Memory Lane. . .

When my mom was 84 we went back to the area around Batesville where she spent her first 9 years. We drove around on dirt country roads and she took me to a place called Chinn Springs. She hadn't been there in 75 years and she led me right to it! She talked about how they rocked up the area where the water came out of the cave and made a swimming hole.  The breeze from the cave, now collapsed, even on the hot summer day we were there felt like an air conditioner was going. Clear, cold water; what a wonderful swimming hole. It's still out in a very rural area. The last time I went in 2006 the area had been fenced off and a "keep out" sign was posted. What a shame but I imagine liability issues with those caves probably had something to do with it.

My brothers had cigar boxes full of arrowheads that would surface every spring during plowing time. My uncle's farm which was very close to an ancient encampment would give up pottery shards every spring. The native soil is not rocky at all so he always said if you found a rock there it had been brought in and used as a tool.

I've been collecting coordinates for family land in Arkansas. I wish I had a geocaching GPS. With those you can put in the range and township and it will lead you right there. My GARMIN gets me to addresses and towns but not speciific bare land. They cost about $400.00/ a bit rich for my blood.

My best girlfriend's mom passed a few years go. Her mom had a diary her entire life! Karren her daughter has crates of diaries from age 16 thru 75.  She has never read any of them.

My mom lived with us for 3 years before she passed away. In that time I learned so much about my mom. I dont regret not writing down her stories, but I do regret not recording her voice telling one of her great stories. My mom lived in Europe during WWII. She always cried when she saw war on tv.

Hi Karen:

My name is Maria, well Maria de los Angeles to be exact, but that's a whole 'nother story.  

My favorite reading spot was my grandfather's study; he was a country doctor who had died years before I was born, but grandma kept his office/examining room just the way he had left it as sort of a shrine.  The cool thing about it was that the walls were lined with all kinds of books printed in several languages, and the juiciest ones were the medical books with drawings/pictures.

So I would peruse through these forbidden books or bring my own, and still have fond memories of sitting at his roll-top desk increasing my knowledge of the human body (especially certain parts) or reading Agatha Christie (grandma's favorite) thrillers in Spanish.

Now I read constantly on my Nook tablet, best invention since sliced bread.  Last read Divergence, a teen novel my granddaughter recommended.

Have a great day, and thank you for reminding me of those afternoons in grandpa's study..

George,

Your life reads life a delicious book. Have you ever thought about writing? Your life story is very interesting. I can relate in some ways. My mom thought reading was being lazy. That's why I used to hide when I read. My mom was a clean freak, and I used to spend all my free time cleaning when I was kid.

I was sad when you said you could not go hoem because your mom thought you were still contagious. Ouch! But your grandma sounds awesome.

Best,

Sharon

I loved to read when I was a child.  I usually read on my bed, except in the summer, I would sit outside in the shade and read, because my bedroom did not have air conditioning.  I remember, I would take the bus to the public library and take out books by certain authors.  I read fiction, and got caught up in the fantasy of each story.

Now, I belong to a Christian book club.  I read books on growing Spiritually, as well as Christian fiction.  I recently discovered a new Christian author, Deanne Gist.  Her books are historic Christian fiction.  She researches a particular time in history, and develops a romance, with the language, and traditions of that time period.  I fell in love with her writing the first book.  It was about the logging industry in Washington State, and how the men ordered mail order brides.  

My children all love to read.  My daughter had a problem reading in the beginning, but she was tutored, and now is a Title I Reading Specialist in a small school district in Michigaan.  She has been reading to her children since the day they were born.  My grandchildren have tons of books, and get read to at bedtime, and throughout the day.  

Hugs,
Trish

HI Trish,

I love Gist.

She was the first Christian author I ever read.

I also love Sharlene MacLaren. Have you read the Jacob Kane Series? It is delicious! Better than food.

My favorite though is Stephanie Whitson. I love western fiction. 16 Brides was great. But the best was Walks on Fire. By far the best book I have ever read. It's the first in a 3 part series. I usually buy them on amazon.

What have you read that you love?

Sharon