Reunion Memories - My Life as a Reader

What do you remember about your childhood? I remember reading a book a day in second grade.

My teacher had a small classroom library of books that we checked out. When we finished the book we returned the book and stuck a star by our name on a chart. 

Second grade was the grade when I began to figure out words from context. I remember the word - "surprise". After that I was a reader. I read everything. I won a prize that year for reading the most books. I have been a voracious reader ever since.

Now to the book above. 

My sixth grade teacher read from Bird Life in Wington for daily devotional.

 Public school in the South. 

I liked the book so much I asked my parents to get me a copy.

Here is the memory. 

Recently at my 50th high school reunion my classmate JoAnn shared a memory of me from sixth grade. (I was new to the school that year. Most of the class had been together since first grade. I didn't make friends easily so I spent most of my time reading.)

This day JoAnn remembered that I was reading a book that I kept in my lap. Our teacher had a discipline method with a sticker or something on each child's shoulder that she would take away if you misbehaved. I was quietly reading my book. The teacher came over and took my sticker.

JoAnn said she was impressed because I protested the action. I don't remember what I said but I'm sure it was on the line of "I wasn't misbehaving. I was quietly reading."

That led me to remember a time or two when I read a book during class in seventh grade. The teacher made us round-robin read the textbook. It was sooooo borrring.

I propped my textbook open to the page we were slowly reading. The fascinating novel I wanted to read was hidden by the textbook, so I thought. I was so engrossed in the story that I didn't realize my teacher was looking around at us. Caught not paying attention in class I was sent to the office. Her husband was the principal. I don't remember the punishment but not having to listen to students stumbling as they read aloud was its own reward.

I'm still a reader who gets lost in a book. 

As a parting thought enjoy the flowers below.

They are Clara Curtis or Country Girls, a type of chrysanthemum.