The electronic book revolution has not taken over this island girl yet, as I cannot wrap my head around simply "downloading" my reading material and no longer needing to step foot inside those wonderful institutions called the library and the bookstore. Today, for the second time on this trip, we headed to the local bookstore/coffee shop to browse and look for some books my fiance and I have been assigned by our wedding officiant to study between now and next summer. Whether by myself, with friends, or with family, I can spend hours wandering the aisles of a book store, and I usually leave only because my arms are hurting from the pile of books weighing me down that I have decided to purchase. If I lived in the states, I would most likely have to limit or ban myself from these places or at least retrain myself to use the library ONLY for all my reading needs because I would be broke otherwise!
I love the possibilities of learning something new, finding answers to questions, and discovering a new adventure to indulge in or escape to another world that reading brings me, so to be surrounded with all those resources in one place and to have white chocolate mochas and Asiago cheese soft pretzels at my fingertips as well is a little piece of heaven to me. Of course, when I am there with family, I cannot become quite so lost in time as I can on my own, but this does not stop me from spending the same amount of time and money in these stores. The thing I love most about going to the bookstore as a mother is how much my children enjoy it too. With the fantastic kid's sections they have now, it's easy to keep them occupied and content while Gammy and I look for our own paper and ink pleasures. My oldest son can never seem to get enough of books. In fact, he didn't even know we were headed to the bookstore when he asked to go as we took off in the car. This made my mom think of title of this blog, "so many books, so little time." That saying applies so perfectly in his case. He usually has no less than 3 books going at one time and still finds more he "just has to have!" I limited him and his brother to 3 today, and although he had to make a choice and leave one behind this time, he was still very thankful for his new finds, and buying books is one thing I do not mind doing for them and spending my hard earned dollars on.
I'm sure some day I will try out the new electronic books and book readers and find great convenience in them as well as possibly save a bit of money, but for now, I am happy to slide my hands over the decorated paper cover of a new hardback and flip through the thick pages, skimming for information or looking ahead to the next chapter without having to boot anything up or use my fingertips to scroll down. I am content to pick up my book and feel the weight of it in my hand as I take my cup of coffee out on the back patio to warm up from the cold air conditioned comfort inside the house and escape the noise of the TV and video game generation that my children have grown way too accustomed to being a part of as soon as they wake up on a weekend or vacation time. It's something I can do without relying on the technology of this world to assist me. This is one area technology has not completely taken over yet, and I 'm happy to NOT go "paperless" when it comes to my favorite past time of reading, at least for now. After all, there are "so many books and so little time."
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