I have started a new book.
It's called The Horse Whisperer.
You may have seen the movie.
I encourage you to read the book.
It is written by a man who inherently cares so much about horses that he writes with excruciating detail.
In fact I can only manage a few pages a day.
I am wrought by such emotion that I need a whole day to process the events.
And it is not a Schindler's List kind of emotional draining.
It is a good emotional draining.
A great way to start my day.
Kind of like Holly Hunter's character in the movie Broadcast News where she starts each frenetic day bawling alone in her office, to clear out her emotional pipes, I guess.
And as I sit there, weeping while I am reading, Princess the cat sitting on the mat in front of me, looking up at me wondering what she can do to help me, I have a confession to make: I read in the bathroom.
Yes, while I am having my morning constitution, I am indeed getting my read on.
There, I admit it.
I am sure I am not alone.
There is a reason why it is called The Reading Room.
Heck, Seinfeld even had a whole show about it: the one where George had been reading a book from a bookstore in the bathroom and tried to return it but couldn't because it had been FLAGGED!
And George is often seen heading off to Jerry's bathroom with a newspaper tucked under his arm.
As a former college teacher of mine and a former boss as well were wont to do; as they headed out of the classroom/office with that newspaper under their arm, we all knew where they were headed.
And yes I know there are all sorts of watches and warnings about reading in the bathroom, especially don't bring your phone in there as it will likely pick up some airborne matter that we don't want to mention.
And I know that research has even shown that toothbrushes kept in the bathroom have been known to show exposure to said airborne matter.
Uck!
I suppose my little "habit" started as a child; my parents used to keep a book actually called Poems For The John in the washroom.
The poems and stories in it were indeed for the toilet; I was probably way too young to be exposed to such inappropriateness. In today's Woke world it would have been child abuse.
But there you have it.
And it created a lifelong habit where I now look forward to my moments to myself, and my privacy, (with the exception of Princess), to do a Word Search puzzle or two, give the Costco, Zoomer and CAA magazines and even the weekly flyers their due attention, and now, give a proper novel a go.
Pardon the pun.
I promise I won't try to return it; I own the book.
It can go back in my little home library in my little home office, which actually also doubles as a bathroom because the cats' litter box is in there too.
I am sensing a theme here.
And so, to anyone who says they don't read in the bathroom, I say they are lying.
It is, after all, a perfect Reading Room.
And I promise not to lend anyone any of my books.