Getting into My Mind

One of the perks of retirement is having more time to read and enjoy books that I don't need to teach. No thinking of questions to ask, or which literary elements are present, or projects to explore once the reading is finished.

Since Christmas I have completed three books.  Destiny of the Republic by Candace Millard was recommended by E. Anne and was the story of James Garfield and his short term as President of the United States.  It was very eye-opening as to the lack of medical knowledge during that time, the absence of secret service, and the political maneuverings that were not really that much different than what is happening today.

Next up was Eden Hill by Bill Higgs.  Not a common name for an author, in fact, I can see Megan scrunching up her face and asking "Who?" because she has never heard of him.  Liz Curtis Higgs....ahh...ok...he is her husband.  She mentioned his book in one of her FB posts, I investigated, and I purchased it for my Nook.  Good, easy read, but rather calm and not too surprising when it ended.

I was reading  another book I had checked out on Overdrive.  It was the story of two children growing into adulthood at the time of the occupation in Europe during World War II, All the Light We Cannot See.  I was about 1/3 of the way through it when it disappeared from my Nook because it needed to be renewed and since there was no Wifi at Mom's house, I lost it.  I am now on the waiting list again.  However, the mood is not one that was too pleasant, so I may pass on it IF it ever comes my way again.

Since my choices were limited in Wooster, I started to read Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Piccoult.  It was already on my Nook from a previous purchase and since I had enjoyed her most recent book last fall, it was time to cross this one off my Nook list.  I have to admit that this was not a pleasant book to read.  In fact, it scared me.  The subject was a victim of bullying who, one morning, went into his high school and killed 9 students and one teacher and wounded 19 others.  The book itself was well-written with jumps to the past, then to the present, back and forth, filling in missing details which allowed the reader to piece together the treatment of Peter from his first day of kindergarten to the end of his life.    For me that subject was just too close to home.  I taught high school students for 33 years.   I witnessed unkind treatment of many students, tried to stop it several times, and continued to see the hurt and the withdrawal of so many who were teased, mocked, and ridiculed.  That could have very well have happened at West Central.  It makes me hurt and scared for Landon, Tessa, Cooper, and Owen in the future. 

To top it off there were two middle school girls who were brutally murdered in Delphi just a few days ago.  Here we are in an area where people walk on trails, where everyone feels safe, where crime rates are low, and we don't expect to see 'murder' gracing the headlines or lead stories on television.  Here it happened.  We drive through Delphi several times a week.  It is a nice quiet town.  Megan and Matt's wedding reception was in Delphi.  We enjoy eating at Stone House and the Sandwich Shop.  Tessa's adoption was held in the courthouse there.  One of my former students is assistant principal at Delphi Elementary.  Murder should not happen there, or anywhere close to our homes.  But it did.

So combine those two---reading Nineteen Minutes and listening to and reading about the murders of two young girls in a nearby town.

It's getting into my mind.  I feel scared.  I feel worried.  I feel apprehensive.  I want everyone to feel safe. 

Yesterday I felt so uneasy, and most of that uneasiness could be attributed to the fear and apprehension.  Megan and Matt teach in a school and I am sure bullying occurs.  We have four grandchldren who could be subjected to bullying.  "Could" is probably not the right word---they will be subjected to it because most people are bullied at some time or another.  Tony Lawrence taunted me with "four eyes" every day before Math class until I turned at smacked him across the face.  He never did it again.  For six years I was one of the "Ohio People," a label that often made me feel like a leper, like I had some kind of disease, but it also made me work harder for my grades so that I could graduate at the top of my class and receive a full tuition scholarship to Indiana State.

It still makes me feel so apprehensive about the kids, about being able to go out and walk along the Panhandle Pathway, about strangers, just nervous.

After all of the tension and sadness and being on the verge of tears for several days (and actually crying a few times), finally the tension broke when Rick started the sermon today. I can't even remember what he said at the beginning, but his words created a sense of peace coming over my soul.  I know that with our faith in God, we can face any challenges that come before us.  He will protect us.  He will give us peace and comfort. 

Now I am looking for something new to read.  Megan gave me The Nightengale for Christmas, so I might start that.  Perusing the Overdrive selections might give me a couple of ideas.  Whatever it is, it can't be a heavy, tears-provoking book.

Like Gary said, "You need to read some fluff."  Fluff.  Here I come!