Archive for the ‘Creativity’ Category
June 22, 2010
“Our women’s ministry group is holding a craft fair in the fellowship hall on Sunday afternoon,” my sister said. It was just one week before Christmas and although I had finished my shopping, the event sounded like fun.
Walking slowly into the crowded room, I attempted to follow the left aisle. Scanning crafts, prices, and people, I saw an open path and immediately walked toward the opposite side of the room.
Crocheted dish towels, cookbooks, customized pillowcases and baked goods are just a few of the items I saw that day. After scanning the entire room, I returned to my three favorite exhibits.
The first exhibit was a home baked persimmon pudding. I’ve been told this dessert is either loved or not. Since it’s only available in the fall season of the year, I knew this was my opportunity to taste a dessert I loved, one my mom had baked when I was a child. Purchase one completed.
The second exhibit was handcrafted pillow cases. Colors exploded and the custom designs temporarily mesmerized me. When my eyes landed on the purple and green set of pillowcases, it felt like I had found a tangible moment of tranquility. Purchase two completed.
The third exhibit was a combination of baked goods and miniature containers. Glancing at the display, I saw two miniature plastic bags inside a coffee mug, one contained a dry chocolate powder and the second contained a dry white powder. Directions to mix the contents in the cup were listed on the label affixed to the mug. It was something I hadn’t seen before and yet it reminded me of the miniature bake ovens popular with kids several years ago but this was an adult sized coffee mug. Purchase three completed.
Creativity of the exhibitors amazed me. In that simple Sunday afternoon event I had the opportunity to remember the love of my mom and dad, as well as explore new ideas that taught me ways to prepare things I hadn’t even considered.
When I looked at the calendar yesterday morning, an italicized quotation caught my eye. “Our minds are like parachutes; they work best when open.”
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Angela Scott is an author who diligently works to encourage and inspire you, and those with whom you live and work to continually find hope. Visit http://www.thatstorylady.com to get your free “Thought for Today.”
March 17, 2010
Karen asked if I wanted to browse items in the Bargain Box a few minutes before our volunteer shift began. “Of course,” I replied. It had been several years since I last visited that store.
She looked at clothes while I went to the back of the store. My teacher in a coupon clipper class said the best prices were always found at the back of stores. As a specialist in bargain hunting, I remembered that lesson well. So, I looked at items in the clearance section. A framed picture for $1, “Heart’s Content” was one of the first items that caught my eye. An outhouse with the shape of a heart design cut through the top half of the door caught my eye. Many interpretations bolted through my mind and brought a mischievous smile to my face.
“I’m going to look at the books,” I told Karen. I left seven dollars in the car in case of an emergency, however, I silently told myself I had no plans to spend that money.
Browsing through the books, I found a book of essays written by Warren Buffet for fifty cents; a book of questions for fifty cents; Norman Cousins’ book, “Anatomy of an Illness” for fifty cents; and the book, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” for $2.
Familiar with the first three books, the title of the fourth book stopped me in my tracks. “Could this be the same book related to the movie with Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson?” A sales associate walked past me and I had to ask.
“That’s what movies are – they’re usually based on books,” she responded. Returning to the car, I grabbed $4 to purchase all four books.
I began reading the book and quickly learned the movie and this book were one in the same. The book was published in 1998, although I did not find it until an unplanned shopping trip before our volunteer work began on an early Saturday afternoon in May 2007.
Karen and I discussed the bargains we found. Her eyes told the entire story when I showed her the “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” book. We giggled like school girls as we thought out loud about the unlikely place to find a book and movie connection in our own hometown.
Just four years prior, I had written a thank you note to Mr. McConaughey in appreciation for the difference he made in my life based on a comment he made in an interview featured on the cover of PARADE Magazine published in 1999.
McConaughey shared in his interview the fact that he was not a big reader and had serendipitously found a small book he read in one sitting. He said reading that book had made a difference in his life. So, I decided that if the small book made a difference in his life, it could help me as well.
I found the book and although I was not immediately hooked, I kept reading because of the words he had shared, “…not a big reader.” I had earned good grades in school but up until then, reading had not been one of my favorite leisure activities.
Learn to be a good listener because success leaves clues. If you have not yet read the book McConaughey recommended, “The Greatest Salesman in the World” by Og Mandino, find it immediately. Read it and let me know when you find the clue I found.
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Angela Scott is an author who diligently works to encourage and inspire you, and those with whom you live and work to continually find hope.
“Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.”
All writings here are copyrighted by Angela Scott. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.
March 10, 2010
Although small and seasoned with age, it is in mint condition. I have studied it perhaps as much as a textbook when I prepared to take a test. Seventeen years ago, Mom had given to me a tiny layette card that detailed the story about my first birth day. I immediately placed it in a miniature cedar chest for safe keeping.
Actually, it was quite safe because I had forgotten about it until a few months ago. On a quiet afternoon at home, I rediscovered the miniature card while looking through a collection of photographs, journals and souvenirs in my miniature cedar chest.
Recorded in cursive handwriting in blue ink on a pink card, I savored the precious gift of life my mom and dad had given me. Reading all the details on the card, I learned seven things about my first birth day:
1) The hospital room number where nurses and doctors took care of my mother, and me;
2) The length and weight of my body;
3) The breadth of my head and chest;
4) The name of the doctor who delivered me;
5) The name of the hospital;
6) The city and state of my birth; and
7) The company who provided the canned Pet milk formula for me and the other babies born that year.
Curious to learn more, I contacted the hospital where I was born and spoke with hospital representatives. That is how I learned the official name of the tiny card, as well as how the cards are provided free of charge to the hospital for families in their facility.
An antique, my tiny layette card is unique because I have not yet spoken with anyone else who received or remembers a similar type of card with Pet Milk Company listed in the last line of text on the card. In addition to the name of the company, a miniature picture of their milk product was also displayed.
Last Saturday, I had the privilege of playing Bingo with my mom and her friends at church. The passage of time was easy to see in all of our faces and bodies.
We all are seasoned with age; however, last week I also saw another picture of the heart I had not previously understood.
A verse in Proverbs states, “As water reflects the face, so one’s heart reflects the person.” Gazing around the room, tears welled in my eyes. I sensed a new appreciation for life and my family who loved and cared for me.
Although it was a quiet afternoon, I silently heard a story about the precious gift of life, which was loud and clear. Think about it.
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Angela Scott is an author who diligently works to encourage and inspire you, and those with whom you live and work to continually find hope.
“Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.”
All writings here are copyrighted by Angela Scott. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.
February 5, 2010
After attending an early morning church service, we found ourselves walking in the midst of an afternoon so beautiful, it almost took my breath away.
Basking in the warm sunshine beneath the clear blue sky, something told me it was too early in February for such a warm day in the middle of winter. I knew this was a moment of serendipity.
It was a warm, sunny Sunday afternoon in February last year when we visited the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. With my digital camera in hand, I plotted my strategy to photograph the statuesque giraffes. Much to my surprise, the elephants captured my undivided attention.
Two elephants began walking toward us. One elephant walked beside the water and began drinking. The other elephant walked alongside the border of trees farther away from us but still within clear sight.
Right before my eyes, the elephant positioned himself parallel with the water as he drank. It was almost as if he saw his reflection in the water. It was surreal because the stillness of the water revealed a mirror image of the elephant.
Stepping back from the small crowd, I positioned my digital camera to capture the entire reflection of the elephant as it stood beside the still water. Professional photographers near me were busy snapping photographs; however, I am certain I received a gift the others may have overlooked.
On our way home, we stopped by the neighborhood photo kiosk to process a few prints because I wanted to see if the moment of serendipity in my memory would accurately reflect what I had seen.
Details of the photograph temporarily confused me because it was difficult to discern if I was holding the photograph right side up or down. The reflection was flawless. A temporary moment captured in the photograph gave me a first hand taste of the visual spice of life.
Even though I took the photograph, I could hardly believe what I saw. It is almost as if I had been listening with my eyes. Reeling in the the thrill of holding such a beautiful scene, I felt compelled to share the photograph.
The third time I shared the photograph of the elephant, it was with a new friend I met while attending a workshop for the workplace. She said, “You have to get this photograph in the hands of someone at the zoo.” It sounded like a great idea.
With a smile on her face, my new friend said she had met a fellow from the zoo just one day prior to our meeting. They had met at the same facility where the workshop was held. He had given her an extra business card, which she gave to me. “Call him,” she said.
My new friend at the North Carolina Zoological Society asked if I would donate a framed print of the elephant to their annual auction, which was quite an honor for me, an amateur photographer.
The photograph of the elephant was originally framed so the memory could be given away; however, later on I decided to have a gallery wrap, a 16″ x 20,” made for my own enjoyment. Released from the frame, the elephant looked free as he stood in peace by the still water, a visual buffet for the eyes.
A few weeks ago I heard someone say, “All elephants are gray but not all gray things are elephants.” The experts were right. A picture is worth a thousand words.
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Angela Scott is an author who diligently works to encourage and inspire you, and those with whom you live and work to continually find hope.
“Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.”
All writings here are copyrighted by Angela Scott. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.
February 1, 2010
Meteorologists predicted a lot of snow for our area this weekend and the first thing my family asked me related to bread, not money. “Do you have all the ingredients to make Aunt Bea’s pocketbook yeast rolls?” My answer, of course, was yes.
Taking care of errands on Friday, I confess I stopped by the grocery store to buy a roast to cook in the crock pot. There was no need for me to rush and buy milk and bread because I have learned to be prepared for most unexpected emergencies. There is a verse in Proverbs which says, “Wisdom is the tree of life to those who find it, and happy are those who embrace it.”
Among the staples I keep in my pantry are cans of Pet Milk, water, batteries, vegetables, rice, flour, sugar, and Fleishmann’s Rapid Rise Yeast.
After I walked in the kitchen, I turned the temperature on the crock pot to high and gingerly placed the eye of round roast in the Corning Ware dish, covered it with dry onion soup mix and water.
Checking the time on my wristwatch, I knew there was ample time to refuel my daughter’s car before picking her up from work as well as finish reading a book, “The Shack” a friend had recently shared with me.
We drove from cloudy skies to skies filled with millions of snowflakes in a matter of ten minutes. It looked like a cloud of light burst in front of us. Although our intentions were not to travel into a storm, there was nothing we could do to avoid it.
As we pulled into the garage on Friday evening, I was thankful to know that while dinner was cooking there was enough time to mix up a batch of Aunt Bea’s pocketbook yeast rolls.
It is Sunday morning now and the snowy ice mixture was so bright that it woke me up. My daughter asked if it was okay to warm up the leftover yeast rolls for breakfast today rather than eating cereal. It sounded like a good idea because it freed up a block of time for me to accomplish another task.
Our kitchen smelled like a bakery this morning after only a few minutes. When we ate our breakfast of yeast rolls, honey, and hot tea, everyone was satisfied and returned to their schedules. Although it was only a half hour we spent together, I felt richer for the experience because I was able to share a portion of my heart through fond memories of my Aunt Bea.
I have been asked why I do not bake the bread more often, which gave me reason to pause and think. As a matter of fact, the last time I remember baking these yeast rolls was on December 18 last year when snowy weather kept us together.
I realized there were three questions to be answered in order for me to commit to the time required for the bread baking process.
1) Who will be eating the bread?
2) What is the occasion for the bread?
3) When will the bread need to be ready for consumption?
Even though we drove into a storm, it turned out to be a good thing. We have spent more time together as a family than our regular schedules permit. It has been inconvenient in several aspects but this is one weekend which gifted me with a much needed respite.
A mixture of inconvenience, laughter, laundry, yeast rolls and family tell the whole dough story.
Angela Scott is an author who diligently works to encourage and inspire you, and those with whom you live and work to continually find hope. Visit my website to get your own copy of Aunt Bea’s pocketbook yeast rolls and share your love with others.
“Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.”
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All writings here are copyrighted by Angela Scott. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.
December 22, 2009
My Aunt Bea lived in Asheboro not Siler City. She was actually my great aunt who could do anything great. Aunt Bea cooked, sewed custom clothing, told humorous stories about the kids at the school where she worked, and she loved me as much as I loved her.
Her house always smelled good on the Sunday afternoons when we used to visit her. The aroma of homemade yeast rolls was one of my personal favorites but it seemed too time consuming for me so I never asked her for the bread recipe until October 13, 1993.
My dad died in July that year and he was a master craftsman who taught me many things, one of which included a lesson on how to weave cane for seats in ladder back chairs.
It was not until after dad died that I realized one of my many mistakes; I had not asked for written directions or pictures of the process. Chair seats he crafted with cane by hand are located in my house but I quickly realized my need for a lot of instructions, which were no longer available.
After church I asked mom if she would record Aunt Bea on video as she prepared one of her masterpiece recipes. Mom readily agreed but Aunt Bea did not want to be the focus of the video. We smiled and told Aunt Bea we wanted the recipe because we wanted to make a memory.
Aunt Bea listened to my story and agreed to demonstrate her recipe while mom recorded the directions. Her words were clear, “You must follow the directions in the exact order listed.”
She began reciting the directions from memory:
(1) Mix in one (large) bowl the following ingredients:
One-half cup of Crisco shortening; one-fourth cup of sugar; 1 teaspoon of salt…
(2) [Boil water in a small saucepan] Pour ¼ cup of boiling water into the large bowl and mix well.
(3) [Boil water in a small saucepan] Pour ¼ cup of boiling water into large coffee cup. Pour ¼ cup of cold milk (2% is what I use) into the coffee cup filled with hot water. Add 2 ¼ teaspoons of Fleishmann’s Rapid Rise Yeast into this liquid mixture. Stir with a spoon and let it sit for 2 minutes.
(4) Beat two (2) eggs and pour into the bowl containing the mixture of shortening, sugar, salt, water. Mix well.
(5) Return to the mixture listed in Step (3) and stir until the yeast is dissolved in liquid mixture. Pour this mixture into the large bowl and mix well.
(6) Gently fold in and mix two (2) cups of Pillsbury’s Best All Purpose Flour into the mixture in the large bowl.
(7) Pour ¼ cup of cold milk into the mixture in the large bowl (I add milk one or two tablespoons at the time).
(8) Gently fold in one (1) additional cup of Pillsbury’s Best All Purpose Flour and mix well.
(9) Cover mixture with saran wrap (airtight – I use a rubber band around the bowl over the Saran Wrap) and place in refrigerator overnight.
(10) Melt butter in a small saucepan and let it cool for the next step.
(10) Prepare a floured board to roll out the mixture of dough. Use flour as needed to prepare dough for cutting into round shapes (I use a Tupperware scalloped edge round cutter) and dip inside half of round dough shape in melted butter. Fold the dough in half and place in baking dish side by side.
(11) Let uncovered bread dough rise at room temperature for approximately 3 hours.
(12) Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
(13) When bread dough is light and fluffy, bake in a 425 degree oven for approximately 15 minutes or until bread is golden brown.
Recipe yields approximately 32 dinner rolls (bake bread while dough is folded in half, thus the name Pocketbook Rolls).
Recipe works well when I double the ingredients. Family members love this bread as much as friends.
Confident I could successfully prepare and bake her “Pocketbook Yeast Rolls,” I returned home to bake bread but quickly realized I had not paid enough attention to her directions. We even returned to Asheboro to ask Aunt Bea if she could have forgotten to include a step because the bread I baked was hard as a rock.
“Did you follow the directions in the exact order…?” she asked. Reflecting on the bread baking process, I recited the ingredients I used and the order in which I followed the steps. After only two questions, I learned the source of my error.
It’s been over sixteen years since I first learned to successfully bake Aunt Bea’s “Pocketbook Yeast Rolls.” At family dinners, Aunt Bea’s “Pocketbook Yeast Rolls” are always requested for me to prepare.
One family member commented, “Those rolls are so good you don’t even have to bite them; they just melt in your mouth.” Although I receive the culinary compliments, Aunt Bea earned them.
Mark Twain said, “I can live two months on a compliment.” Aunt Bea died several years ago but she will live forever in my heart. The culinary compliments are blessings that will last me a lifetime, as well as continually remind me of Aunt Bea and her love.
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All writings here are copyrighted by Angela Scott. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.
December 3, 2009
Eating popcorn and a brownie during a concert intermission last week, I remember commenting to my friend about how much fun it was to eat fresh popped popcorn. That’s when I remembered a cookie recipe one of my neighbors shared with me just a few months ago. A woman sitting at our table smiled while my friend and I spoke. With a smile, our new friend asked for the recipe I had spoken about, popcorn cookies.
When I first heard the name, “popcorn cookies,” it sounded like a recipe for fun. Listening carefully for the specific list of ingredients, I made a mental note to self, “This is important.”
The four ingredients are: Cap’n Crunch’s Peanut Butter Crunch, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies, Planters’ Unsalted Dry Roasted Peanuts and Almond Bark.
“Just melt the almond bark in the microwave. Then remove from the microwave and stir in the other ingredients. Afterwards, drop the cookie mixture onto waxed paper to cool,” she said confidently with a smile.
I remember thinking, “That’s it?” Only four ingredients were needed to make a crunchy sweet and salty snack to whet our appetites before dinner. After eating a few samples of the popcorn cookies, I had complete confidence I had heard one of the best cookie secrets ever shared.
Determined to stir up a batch of popcorn cookies for the holidays, I went to the grocery store with my recipe in hand as well as my digital camera. Just thinking about the ingredients triggered multiple recipe variations using the popcorn cookie concept.
The first batch of popcorn cookies I make will be for those who like to eat peanut butter and the second batch can be altered for those who are not able to eat peanut butter. Of course, there are other snack items that can be substituted for the peanut butter flavor. The possibilities are unlimited.
Author John Ortberg said, “If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat.” Pour your ideas out onto a piece of paper just like you pour cereal into a bowl. You might be surprised when you realize unique ways to think outside of the boat and the cereal box.
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All writings here are copyrighted by Angela Scott. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.
November 26, 2009
Last summer I saw a large sign on wheels with a message that caught my attention. Displayed on the lawn in front of my grandparents’ church, the sign stated, “You may have a heart of gold but so does a boiled egg.”
Reading the sign several times while sitting in my car, I noticed another sign in the background. It was a permanent sign made of cement, which was quite the opposite of the sign on wheels.
The temporary sign displayed a message which could be changed merely by moving the letters or changing the words. Information on the permanent sign was static. Intrigued by the two different messages, I stared at the message on the temporary sign rather than the permanent sign.
When I stepped back to photograph the temporary sign, the permanent sign looked like a rectangular shaped Lego kids’ toy with information for adults. I guess the information on the temporary sign was for kids because that is what caught my attention. After taking three or four photographs of the two signs, I drove away. It has been over four months since I first saw that sign but after reflecting on the temporary message, I finally understood the meaning, which made a permanent impression in my mind.
Just one month later while attending a convention in July, I walked through a maze of hallways looking for a workshop I wanted to attend. My eyes stopped when I saw an abbreviated Bible verse displayed in large black letters on a rather large wall in the Wellness Center of the university. It was a bright day with lots of sunshine, so the ten words were easy to read. “…be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ” (Ephesians 6:10)
The wall appeared to be constructed of cement blocks connected with deep lines, similar to the latitude and longitude grids of the earth. Reaching for the camera in my pocketbook, I centered the words in the screen of my digital camera and pressed the button for only one picture.
A few weeks later when writing a thank you note, the idea struck me that the picture of the message on that wall would make a great illustration to accompany my handwritten note. Although the 4″x6″ picture was larger than the envelope for my thank you note, I was determined to remedy the obstacle. I stopped at a store with an instant photo kiosk to reduce the size of the 4″x6″ picture to a wallet size.
As I looked at the reduced picture, I saw a contrast that I had not seen when I originally took it. The closer I looked, the more I realized the difference. The portion of the wall with the Bible verse and reference was strikingly light while the lower portion of the wall was dark like a dense fog at night. I gasped when I remembered that the darkness was not distinguishable on the wall when I took the picture.
Recently, I remember seeing a picture in the newspaper that showed a dog watching television. Even though I don’t remember the product advertised, I do remember the sub-title. “It is not what you are looking at… it is what you see…”
A Malian proverb states, “Those who accomplish great things pay attention to little ones.” Learning to look for extraordinary things in ordinary moments is my focus now. When I take a deep breath and slow down, I am able to appreciate what I had been too preoccupied to see.
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All writings here are copyrighted by Angela Scott. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.
November 18, 2009
A few years ago I registered for a class that promised to teach coupon clippers how to save more money. One of the first lessons taught in the class was to be observant and search for bargains in the back of the store. The instructor said, “Begin your search at the lowest rack on the shelf and finish with the top shelf after you’ve scanned all of the shelves.”
I remember those words of wisdom. Just a week ago I was shopping for office supplies and scanned the clearance shelf for hidden treasures at bargain prices. My eyes stopped on a box for custom stamps. The retail price was $19.99 and the clearance price was $11.50. As I read the contents of the kit and the directions, I was struck with the question, “Why are these stamp kits on the clearance shelf?”
My decision to purchase one box of twenty stamps was out of curiosity. Twenty stamps for $11.50 seemed like a reasonable price for 1st class postage. Instead of 44 cents per stamp, the cost would be 58 cents. It was a small price to pay for custom stamps where I could select one of my own photos as the face of the stamp.
With my laptop and stamp kit, I immediately went to work after I arrived home. When I typed in the promotional code for the kit and proceeded to the checkout page, the final price due was zero. The stamps I ordered were 44 cent stamps even though the kit indicated 42 cents. That’s when I realized why the stamp kits were in the clearance section. Apparently a quick decision had been made to clear out the old products and restock the shelves with new products.
Today when I mailed a package at the post office, I saw the same stamp kit for 20 stamps but this kit sold for $24.95. The only difference in the packages was the picture which represented 44 cent stamps instead of 42 cent stamps. It was the same product but twice as expensive as the first kit I found on the clearance shelf.
Needless to say I returned to the office supply store and immediately walked to the clearance section. I found five packages exactly like the package I purchased last week so I took immediate action and purchased all five packages. It was as if I had seen something that other people had overlooked.
You may be wondering why I would be willing to pay 58 cents for stamps when I can buy them for 44 cents. My reason is simple. The stamps I order will be my choice rather than standard post office stamps. I saw the idea and opportunity to create a unique product for a minimal investment.
Just a few days ago I read an article in a local newspaper, Words of Wisdom. One of the quotes caught my attention and my hope is that it will also cause you to think.
“Some people dream of success, while others wake up and word hard at it.” It seemed to be a generic statement upon first glance, however, as I thought about it I realized a deeper meaning.
Ideas and dreams are catalysts for opportunities. The question that remains is this one. Will you take the next step beyond where you are to think for yourself or will you be satisfied to let others think for you?
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All writings here are copyrighted by Angela Scott. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.
November 4, 2009
I read a lot, especially late at night when my mind races with ideas and opportunities. My college Chemistry professor recently sent a Christmas card to me so I called her. We had not spoken in over a year.
She told me about a book she thought I would enjoy reading. After she shared the author’s name, she told me the title of the book. I knew I’d never seen the book she recommended and I admit I wouldn’t have been interested in reading it based upon the title but she had captured my curiosity.
On my way home from work, I stopped by my favorite bookstore and ordered a copy of the book she had recommended.
It arrived in the mail on Friday last week and after dinner, I tore into the package. After reading only a few pages, I knew it was a good find.
Reading a chapter or two each night encouraged me, especially when sleep was elusive for me.
Only one night later and just a few minutes past midnight, my husband was either dreaming, talking in his sleep or he accidentally woke up.
“What are you doing?” he asked. I paused and swallowed hard. “How can I answer that question now in the stillness of the night while reading Living Successfully with Screwed Up People?” I silently thought and waited.
Once again he asked, “What are you doing?” This time he demanded a direct answer. “I’m reading a book,” I responded. Apparently dissatisfied with my response he asked another question. “What book?” Shocked at the coherency of his question in the middle of the night, I gulped.
“Oh, it’s just a book my Chemistry professor recommended for me to read.” Interested to complete the chapter, I returned to my book.
“What’s the name of the book?” he asked. Once again I swallowed with a gulp. “How could I tell him the name of the book I was reading?” I silently thought to myself. “How will he respond?” I confess. I would have gladly ignored his question so I paused once again.
Sitting in silence for an eternity of at least a minute or two, he asked again, “What’s the name of the book?” With great reluctance I mumbled, Living Successfully with … Screwed-Up People. Waiting for his response, I held my breath.
Silence returned as he dozed back to sleep. I wondered why he was so interested in knowing the name of a book I was reading, especially late at night. It’s routine for me to read several books simultaneously without being interrogated. But, never before had he been that interested in knowing the specific name of my reading material, especially when he was asleep.
I’m thankful I listened. He never mentioned the conversation and I didn’t bring up the topic, but I did finish reading the book.
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All writings here are copyrighted by Angela Scott. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.