OTTUMWA —
“Keep moving” is one of my power phrases and I’m adding “keep reading” to the list.
Last week I was on vacation, and it was often a good time to stay inside. Rain, heat, humidity — ICK!
That kind of weather “fun” means you’re stuck indoors. The alleged fun is actually cleaning, watching TV programs or DVDs. And indoors can mean you’re doing all of it at once.
You know what I mean — it’s watching or listening to TV while you run the sweeper. Or, you’re in the kitchen chopping up veggies for a pot of stew or a big salad while you’re listening to the radio.
Sounds like good ol’ multi-tasking, doesn’t it?
I have discovered a possible hazard to these activities while I was cleaning my bookcases. I did use the vacuum on many of my books before all action ceased.
What stopped the cleaning binge? Scarlett O’Hara and “Gone With the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell. I started reading parts of it and lost track of time.
Wow! A whole hour went by before I noticed. I had forgotten how wonderful that can be.
For those who are 60 and older, I hope they’re all moving and reading. I’ve heard both activities help keep your brain active.
And if you want to take a break from reading a book, go online and search for a site that lists their choice of best books. I found one, given below.
The website calls this the “Museums, Libraries, and Archives Society’s 30 Books Every Adult Should Read Before They Die.”
Here’s the Top 10 portion of that list: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee; “The Bible”; “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien; “1984” by George Orwell; “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens; “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte; “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen; “All Quiet on the Western Front,” by Erich Maria Remarque; “Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War,” by Sebastian Faulks; and “The Grapes of Wrath,” by John Steinbeck.
Reading for fun and enjoyment — I think I’ll keep it up while I’m losing track of time.
On the Web: http://www.listsofbests.com
Columns
May 7, 2012
Keep moving, keep reading
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