One of the strongest memories from my daughter’s elementary school years was the parent-teacher conference in third grade. There I was, teetering on a tiny chair listening intently, trying to make sense of Mrs. X’s words, “And I really would prefer that G restrict her reading to reading time only.”
At my blank look, she elaborates, “Often, G gets so lost in whatever she’s reading that she doesn’t hear the instructions to the class.”
This feels too familiar. I’ve gotten lost a few times myself over the past few decades.
2000s
Driving home during rush hour commute; listening to The Master Butchers Singing Club, I am overwhelmed with grief as Eva sinks beneath the waves of pain from the cancer that is destroying her, in spite of the efforts of Fidelis and Delphine to ease her. The blast of a car horn jars me to the realization that I’ve been creeping along at 27 miles an hour while around me the other drivers weave in and out in an effort to accommodate my snail’s pace.
1990s
There have been times when I never come back . . . my mass-market paperback of Lonesome Dove, 945 pages long, has page 925 turned down. It’s been turned down for almost 20 years. Some part of me remains lost with Woodrow Call, on the dusty streets of West Texas. If I never find my way out of the story, I never have to leave it.
1980s
Riding the Washington D.C. Metro, on my way to work, I’m gripped in the closing pages of Shoeless Joe when it’s entirely uncertain whether Doc Graham will leave the magical field—and lose forever his chance to play baseball—to save Roy’s daughter as the McPherson Square stop approaches. The chasm of hours between this moment and the afternoon commute yawns like the Grand Canyon across the day even as the rocketing cars begin to slow. I ride to the end of the Orange Line, New Carrollton—14 stops beyond mine and back again—so I can fly through the final chapters.
Keep getting lost. You find the best places that way.
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“Keep getting lost. You find the best places that way.” This truly resonates with me right now. You are always such a gift…
I love getting lost in books! I’ve never read Lonesome Dove but I will now, it was one of my fathers favorite books. Thank you Rita
Beautiful blog posts.
Excellent book recommendations. Years ago, I bought and never read Lonesome Dove. It’s been on my bookshelf for a long time. I just put it on top of my reading pile. Good to lose ourselves in other worlds. Thanks for suggestions.