Dream A Little Dream (of Reading)

I have a little dream about reading. Specifically, what my perfect reading day would look like, and it works for winter or summer--all year round. It’s a beautiful thing, and I have high hopes that one day it may come true.

Imagine this- after a good 8 hours of sleep, I wake up at a decent hour. No earlier than 7:30am, no later than 8:30am. If it’s winter, the skies are completely overcast and it just *looks* cold outside, and in the summer it’s still overcast but also terribly hot and muggy. After listening to my favorite podcast and showering, I change into my favorite pair of joggers- black and white polka dots with a matching top, and my coziest socks (bright pink and oh-so-fuzzy). After taking our dachshund Albert, outside and then walking myself into the living room, my husband Richie hands me a cup of coffee and we agree that it’s just too cold and cloudy (or hot and disgusting) to venture outside today. I am overjoyed, and celebrate my joy by snuggling into my chair with my softest blanket (gray and white with a quatrefoil print). I have just taken it out of the dryer yesterday, and it still smells like fabric softener (fresh linen).

As Richie and I chat and drink our coffee, it begins to snow (or more likely, rain, especially in the summer dream) outside. We are definitely NOT going anywhere today, and magically, I also don’t have any laundry or housework to finish. I smile into my coffee and look to my left, where sits a book I’ve been waiting to crack open. It’s probably a fantasy novel (because let’s get real here--it’s what I read) that’s been sitting on my shelf for two years. It’s full of possibility. Is there a heist involved? Gosh, I hope so, or at least a gathering of magical (and non-magical; I like a good mix) of people at the top of their game, banding together to accomplish a task. Or maybe it’s about a magical bookstore where the bookseller automatically knows what the buyer needs just by the look of their shoes or the way they part their hair. (Full disclosure- I’m pretty sure these are both books that I have on my shelf right this minute.)

After we finish our coffee, Richie decides that he’s going to make breakfast (french toast with bacon) and play some records. The internet goes out but the power remains on, and now I won’t be tempted to play on my phone instead of reading. He puts on Ella Fitzgerald, and I snuggle into my blanket as our little gray cat Sassy jumps into my lap, purring and making biscuits in the blanket as I pick up my book. She pulls herself into a little ball on my lap and I disappear into the story while the snow begins to coat the front lawn (or the rain begins to pelt the roof). It’s going to be a glorious day.

I love keeping this little dream in my heart. Anytime I can curl up in my favorite chair with a book and a hot beverage-no matter the weather-I get a little closer to making it come true. Here’s to reading and dreams of reading.