I’ve been doing a lot of comfort reading lately. For me, that means novels with happy endings and/or books I’ve read before.
A good book is one that holds something different for you every time you read it and I was struck by what I noticed on my second reading of Provence 1970, a wonderfully evocative story about the author’s aunt, the food writer M.F.K. Fisher and her friends Julia and Paul Child, and James Beard, among others.
As I reveled in the atmospheric tales of food, travel, and companionship, I noticed a common thread that ran through the book; it was full of choices. Career choices, relationship choices, food choices, life choices.
It resonated with me and inspired a lot of thought about the choices I’ve been making in my own life. The choice to move to a new location, the choice to give up my car, even the choice to stop being blonde because of the expense and effort it involves.
When we’re young we have the luxury of infinite choices with plenty of time ahead to course correct, recover, and start over. As we get older and time passes, our choices must be more strategic and even small choices become important.
Logic should make choices like giving up the car, changing my hair color etc. easy, but my logical side isn’t always in sync with my emotional side.
Car culture is deeply embedded in the American psyche, cars mean freedom, exploration, and independence. When it comes to things like hair color, it represents how we see ourselves, how we want the world to see us, and how we feel about ourselves.
But I have less money and less time ahead of me and I want to spend the time I have left traveling, going to plays, concerts, and museums. I want to visit with my friends and family around the country, and I want to fill my new (smaller) living space with books, good food, and wine. Not having a car and not spending money on things like hair color helps me choose the things that are most important to me.
Recently, I chose to attend my first demonstration. I almost made the choice to stay home and be warm and dry rather than brave the chilly rain outside. A sudden image of John Lewis came to mind, and I realized how ridiculous that was. Where would we be if people like Lewis hadn’t chosen to risk their lives to stand up for civil rights?
The No Kings demonstration was all about choice. The choice to protect our planet, to provide basic human rights such as healthcare, and a living wage for everyone, not just a chosen view. The choice to love who we want, be who we want, and even to read what we want. I’m proud to be one of approximately seven million people who made the choice to speak out.
Books have had a profound impact on my choices. Good books entertain us. Great books inform us, inspire us, and educate us so we can make better choices. I find that comforting.
Thanks for reading.
Eileen Blake
