I felt like a mom sending her children off to camp for the summer. Like, I knew life would be a little less stressful without them here, but also, I would miss them. I’m talking about my books.
We drove down to Texas the first week of July to take the camper and as much stuff as we could pack into it, which included all of my books and art.
And just like a mom naturally goes to check on her kids or give them a quick hug, I’ve started to get up countless times to grab a book from the shelf for a quick reference only to remember they’re not here.
When we first started exploring Kendall’s new job opportunity, we thought I’d be traveling with him full time. Now, it looks like I may only travel with him part time or just sometimes, and I don’t know, I think I might be kind of glad about that since my books wouldn’t be able to travel with me.
A writer needs her books. I feel lost without them.
I’m supposed to be on a book buying ban until we get to Texas, and I’ve been mostly good. I’ve managed to buy only four books in the last month: three for a couple of projects I’m working on and another one called 7-Ingredient Mediterranean that was on the Costco book table. I have a thing for Mediterranean cookbooks and food and also for the Costco book table. It gets me every time. To be honest with you, I’m just proud of myself for all the books I haven’t bought.
One of our neighbors told us about some of their neighbors, a couple of college guys who didn’t have any furniture in their apartment until our neighbors helped them get some and introduced them to the thrift store. I feel like those college kids right now. Our mattress and lamps are on the floor, our clothes are in cardboard boxes, we have camp chairs set up in the living room, and we’re eating off paper plates.
I miss our bed, I miss our sofa, and I miss eating off real plates, but mostly, I miss my books and art. Life feels a little bleak and boring without them.
I can’t wait to get to Texas and have my books back and my book ban lifted, although Kendall might just take me on the road full time to save his bank account.
