This Friday P and I are heading to Florida for a little vacation. One of our former students from Campus Life is getting married and he asked P to perform the ceremony.
In case y’all didn’t know, P is a true renaissance man. Not only can he landscape your yard, but he is also a licensed minister which comes in very handy for those folks who may want to increase the curb appeal of their home and renew their vows at the same time.
Happens all the time.
Anyway, we’ll be in Florida for several days. Days that will involve staying in a house right on the beach and sleeping in until whenever I dang well please.
I know I’ll miss Caroline but I honestly don’t think she’ll notice I’m gone, what with all the chocolate donut consumption and unlimited swimming that will take place at Mimi and Bop’s house.
So I’m going to have a lot of time to just relax and, if memory serves, there is nothing better to do while lying on the beach than to read a good book. I mean I’m bringing my computer with me, because it is a part of me with its happy little apple that glows at me night and day as if to say HELLO FRIEND!, but I don’t think computers and sand are a good mix, so I’ll need something for the beach.
I went to dinner with my Bible study group last night and we discussed a few good books. Actually, they discussed a few books and I just nodded my head because I haven’t read anything since the television writers came back from being on strike and who needs books when there are new episodes of “The Office”?
The girls talked about “The Red Tent” which is loosely based on the Bible story of Rachel and Leah. It is about how women would all congregate in the red tent during their time of the month. I haven’t read the book, but I think the red tent is a brilliant idea.
Why don’t we do that now? Why not throw us all in a hotel room somewhere with a bellman sliding constant trays of Ghiradelli Double Chocolate Brownies under the door? Just stock that room with some kleenex for all the irrational crying and a couple of cases of Midol. Oh! And maybe some of those sock’em bop’em giant foam bats like George and Weesie Jefferson hit each other with during that episode where they went to marriage counseling. We could all eat our chocolate, cry, and then beat the heck out of something with those bats to channel our inner hormonal rage.
That would be golden.
None of this is my point, by the way.
I need a few good books to take with me to Florida. The only catch is that I’m not really interested in learning anything. I’m looking for light reading that will make me laugh or cry or both over the course of a few days.
And I don’t like mysteries or anything scary.
I have enough of both residing in my refrigerator.
Since I’m asking y’all for book recommendations, I’ll give you one in return. The last book I read was “The Middle Place” by Kelly Corrigan. I adored this book. In fact, I wish I hadn’t read it yet so that I could read it on vacation. It’s the true story about the journey the author takes after being diagnosed with breast cancer at 37 years old with two young daughters, but it’s wrapped up in stories from her childhood and especially her relationship with her father. It’s beautiful.
So, now it’s your turn.
What do you suggest?