I can’t go to the library yet, but fortunately I have a big collection of books to read. Now I mark the inside with the date I re-read it so I don’t waste any time trolling through my tomes. I’m glad that Reader’s Digest publish Select Editions with four condensed books. Usually I enjoy the authors but I have found a couple I had to speed-read, which is unusual for Select Editions. I read through all of John Grisham’s wonderful fiction, and some James Patterson novels that I’d picked up at my friend and hairdresser’s studio along with some Nora Roberts and other favorite writers.

I grew up going to the library on my bike when I was around eight years old. Times were safe back then and there was very little traffic during the day in Jackson, Ga. My grandmother in Washington, Ga. got me addicted to reading and I’m thankful that she taught me when I was a four-year-old. Then we moved to Jackson about that time and I was grateful she packed my favorites for me when we left. I loved living with them and enjoyed her fantastic catered meals which she made extras from to share with us. I ate my first cheese and sausage balls there and her awesome cheese straws too. She was a diabetic so all the food she prepared was low sugar and her cakes were SO good!

Well I can’t just sit and read books all day, so I also watch some TV, and do crossword puzzles and word searches I bought at Dollar Tree before my fall. I’m glad I was raised in a military family so I’m doing ALL the exercises I was given at Sylvan Grove Rehab and the ones my kind Chereny at Ortho Atlanta printed out for me to do. She is very adamant about me doing as many repetitive workouts for her as possible, and of course I repeat them at home. I really want to get my hip back in good working order so I can drive the Camry, go to the library, and of course Publix, Food Depot and Walgreens too. I really miss those neat shopping trips! I grew up as a non-shopper and always joked the angels forgot to click on ‘loves to shop’ when they were building me, but instead clicked on ‘loves cars’ instead. But now, I actually enjoy shopping and really miss those neat trips too. I’d trimmed down my trips after the COVID thing interrupted the USA. I’m STILL praying for that to go away, and of course for any ailing souls I read about on Facebook to be healed.

I missed the car shows at Summit, another source of fun to me, and of course the awesome Christmas parade in McDonough. It was sad not seeing all of the pretty lights around the Square, but I did spot some on the light pole behind us so at least knew McDonough did their awesome Yule decorations for us. I’m thankful for the various New Year’s Eve joys on TV and also glad we have a DVR where I can save those beautiful celebrations, along with favorite shows too. So, not all my fun has gone away, but a lot of it did.

Of course my daily AJC and Henry County Times give me some fun, joy, and keep me up to date with the latest news. I noticed that my favorite childhood restaurant, Fresh Air BBQ, was named the number one barbecue in Georgia. I’m thankful that the fire that invaded their kitchen only cost them some meat, and and didn’t bring down a part of Georgia and Butts County history!

I will keep praying, and doing my exercises and looking forward to more fun!

Beverly Wittler has four children, eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She lives in McDonough with her husband.