The Luck of Random Books

I have a love of books. Actual books. The more used, the better. I love the dog-earred pages, the notes in the margins, the left behind bookmarks (often receipts or pieces of mail). As with most people, I go through stages of reading – some weeks I knock off five books, other times, it a book a month. But, I always have a supply from my local used bookstore, church sales, and friends. One night I complained how all my “reader’ friends have gone to eBooks and I have no one to swap books with and lo and behold, the next day, two friends dropped off boxes of books on my porch. Sometimes you just have to put it out there!

In some of the darkest times of my life, I have submersed myself into reading, as there truly is no better escape. When my daughter and I moved in with my brother for 10 months, I read and read (as did my daughter). I would literally go to the library ever four days and just pick out three books at random, with barely reading the jacket. My philosophy was you learn something from each book. They all have a value. I read some awful books, some poignant books, some erotica, some sappy. But, they all gave me the much needed escape. I would be hard pressed to name any of the titles or authors, but certain snippets stay in your head and heart.

A book I read last summer (another random purchase at the used book store) offered me one of the most profound statements that literally has changed the course of my life. To put this in context, last summer my mom was gravely ill. I was full time working and care giving, moved houses, and was trying to change careers. My social life had been a on a seven year hiatus since my divorce. I was in my new house, reading late at night. I read one line, sat up in bed, and had a moment….

“Go wake up your luck”

For whatever reason, this got into my soul. Soon after this, my friends basically kidnapped me into going out. We happened to meet up with some old acquaintances and made a pack to get out more. From here, I have reconnected in a major way with a whole bunch of friends, dated a few, and feel like I have come out of the darkness.

So, then mom died and I knew I could not stay at my job any longer. The job hunt went into high gear. Had a few interviews. On my fourth interview with one company, the CEO asked me one last question. She said “do you feel lucky”.

Immediately I replied, “you know it is funny you ask that. I just read a book that had the line ‘go wake up your luck’ and recently  I feel as if my luck has been woken up!”

So there you go. The luck of a random book!