Mastering the Monkey Bars

Remember the first time you stood on the ground and looked up at the monkey bars? Maybe you watched another kid swing his way across before you took your turn. What comes so naturally to us as children; introducing ourselves, trying new activities, can still as adults as long as we abandon that tiny part inside of us that cares what others think.

When you first tried to swing, arm to arm on the monkey bars, did you stop and wonder if the other kids would think you looked silly? Did you care? Did you wonder if you were the only one, if others would see you and think it looked like fun, too. Did you hope the others would stay and play?

Moving from St. Louis to Charlottesville, we made our transition, reaching our arms from one solid place to another, gut tingling fear in the middle, before we'd confidently grasped the next bar in our monkey bar move. Still holding onto both bars, dangling safely with both hands hanging on, I'm not quite ready to let go of that first bar, to keep moving till I get to the other side.

Recently, I wrote an article for The Commonspace, a St. Louis grassroots civics and culture publication. I've written for The Commonspace before, only this is my first time to contribute to the Expatriates column (I harbor a secret desire to ultimately write for every section of the publication). The piece is a little bit about letting go; a little about finding the next strong, safe place to hold onto.

It's a testament to then, a commitment to now.
Cross-posted to Leading Charlottesville.

Best Book We've Read in Years

My husband and I, in the early years, rarely read the same books. Where I favored classics and modern literature, he maintained a steady diet of sci-fi. I married, happily, a reader. It would be impossible for me to happily grow old with someone who didn't understand my passion for books. We can spend hours reading in a room together, perfectly happy to share our love of the written word.

It has only been in the last few years that we began to read the some of the same books, enjoy the same authors. Now, granted, there are still categories of non-crossover; pink-covered chick lit books he won't touch; hardcore sci fi I have no interest in trying.

Last week he said, "This is the best book I've read in the last several years." He left the book for me to read when I was ready. I picked it up in the next couple of days and last night, I finished it. The book is The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. It is amazing. That's all I'm going to say about it, you just have to read it. It is the best book I've read in years, as well.

When I finished, I glanced at the back cover and was slayed by the fact that it's the author's first novel. You'll see what I mean.