The first item on my short list of indispensables for life is... You guessed right: books! I have to thank my mother for this passion she instilled in me and my siblings. Maybe a little more in me since I consider books to be my loyal friends and I am very attached to them. For as long as I can remember, I marveled at stories and felt transported to the imaginary settings described. See, when I read, my mind usually converts words into a three-dimensional reality. In color, if you please. At least, most of the time. And it's a marvelous journey that tickles my senses. Once, I must have been 6 or 7, and our neighborhood was being bombed. My mother, who never wanted to take us down to shelters, always checked that we would remain away from windows, doors, and anything made of glass or that could splinter. And for a moment, she wasn't able to find me. She called my name. No answer. I must have heard her calling in the back of my head but was so immersed in the story I was reading that I didn't budge. After several minutes, and I believe with the help of my maternal grandma, they discovered me comfortably sitting cross-legged under the big dining table and smiling at the unfolding plot, unaware of the chaos around me. I was literally in a different reality or dimension if you want. Mom was angry with me but safety came first. To my dismay, she gently removed the book from my hands and pulled me up to her. She calmly explained that we were going to take refuge at the nearby convent's underground hiding place. And it was a smart decision. Because that night, less than an hour after we had left the house, the roof was hit by a rocket and completely destroyed. Do you think I cared much about any kind of belongings? Not really. I just wanted to make sure my books were not scratched 😁 that was the most important thing on my mind...
Some quotes on books:
A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone if it is to keep its edge - George R. R. Martin
Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors; and the most patient of teachers - Charles W. Eliot
A book is a dream that you hold in your hand - Neil Gaiman
I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book - J. K. Rowling
If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking - Haruki Murakami
The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries - René Descartes
Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination and the journey. They are home - Anna Quindlen
The stories of my books are endless. They have been mentors and companions. And in some instances even more. I know they are valuable and cannot be replaced. Happy reading to you all!
