WHAT I'M READING

May 16 WHAT I'M READING

I must have been 8 or 9 when I read this book. Then a few weeks ago I remembered it when I was wondering why I feel like I'm on the fringes, somehow different than other people. Why didn't moving 42 times (really!) in my life bother me? Why did living in less-than-desirable circumstances (bugs, little furniture, small spaces, etc) seem like an adventure instead of a difficulty? Why didn't I care if I had things? Was there something wrong with me? Mind you, this was mostly as a married adult! When I look at old pictures of my kids, they often look like urchins, albeit happy ones!

So when the image of this book came to mind, I looked for it at the library, to see if it held a key of understanding. I think it did!

It's about a family of four orphaned children who live in this abandoned boxcar for a summer, while they are trying to avoid being found by their mean grandfather. The oldest brother does odd jobs for a doctor in a nearby town, the oldest sister makes beds of pine boughs for each one, scrounges at a dump for pots and dishes to prepare meals, and teaches her young brother how to read. They had a sweet, loving relationship, were pretty independent,  and counted their blessings.

I think that became my dream - to live simply with what you have and people you love. I always had the "doctor" (the Church, and my faith in God) to rely on if I needed help. I had do-it-yourself skills (made my own bread, treated my own sicknesses, which were thankfully few, and gave birth to several children at home). My husband would go to work "in the nearby town", and bring home the things we needed - I'VE LIVED MY DREAM!