Bridging Pieces Together

Do you ever wonder why we call someone who enjoys reading, a book worm? Or unlike myself, do you have better things to think about on your down time?

I thought maybe it’s because we can get lost in a book, I’m assuming similar to a worm getting lost in the soil because come on, there’s no way they can see down there! BUT when I researched the important question, it seems the term comes from insects infesting books and feeding on the bindings’ paste… sounds delicious – actually it sounds tastier than the burnt chicken I made tonight. (Also FYI worms do not have eyes, so there goes my logical theory).

Reading may not be a popular past time for worms, since they do not have eyes and all, but it is a very popular hobby among humans. I have a friend who has such a passion for reading that she owns more books than the Calgary Public Library. She has collected every classic-even multiple copies of these classics and actually reads them! Their main purpose isn’t dust collecting? Who knew. She also listens to audiobooks, which is common amongst older individuals and my Dad when he is “driving” the tractor. (You can’t fool us, we alllll know tractor’s drive themselves now). 

Unfortunately, impaired vision is a common condition in aging. By aging I am not only referring to Grandma and Grandpa, but any age now a days due to the advanced technology and the time we spend staring at screens (I state this as I have been staring at a screen for hours writing this). It’s nice that trendy glasses these days make the term “four eyes” a compliment in high school. 

Talking books are a way for individuals who have impaired vision to enjoy a novel, stimulate the brain, trigger memory and is an opportunity to sit back, relax and feel like a kid again as an adult reads to you.

A resident in her early 90’s expressed that she would like to re-read the first novel she read as a child.  THE VERY FIRST NOVEL. I can’t remember who didn’t receive a rose on last week’s episode of The Bachlorette, let alone the first book I read!

I searched all over Calgary for the specific novel and found one hard copy, but was unable to locate an audiobook. Good thing I had been practicing by reading to my niece because I knew without an audiobook, I would be the adult reading to her. 

Once a week we would read the children’s novel that was quite entertaining about a girl who is always making a fool of herself. Hm sounds familiar…

Usually while I read, it would appear she was sleeping –  slouched over, with her eyes closed, but if I tried to sneak out, she would always pipe up and ask why I was leaving before the chapter was finished. 

One day she stated she could have sworn the main character fell off a bridge at some point. I stared at her thinking, there’s no way you could remember that, but I was too impatient to find out. I raced back to my office, frantically flipping the pages, skimming for something about a bridge and if you could believe it, there it was, the infamous slipping off the bridge. (Spoiler alert).

The guilt was too strong and I did confess to the resident that I skipped ahead to see if she did fall off the bridge. The resident then asked me to leave the novel in her room so there was no more cheating to be had. 

Yes ma’am. 

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