My Earliest Memory

My earliest memory of my entire childhood is hazy, I remember a lot of laughter. I had so much fun, I don't think I registered I was living  the best best part of life. Ah! good times. When this prompt came up, I signed up immediately, who didn't want to write about their childhood, right? But it took me soo long before I could pick what I wanted to say to the world. After reading my post, I was also wondering why would someone enjoy this? But then again, I decided to go with it anyway.

Corinne thanks for tagging me!

My earliest memory of reading was probably was when I was a little over 5? I grew up in a house with a library! Yes, I'm still to go through the entire collection my family has, only last year I discovered that I owned a copy of Pride and Prejudice! Even now, I bump into a book I've been looking for all over and suddenly it's there. In my shelf. Even as a child I was a very curious one, I couldn't wait to read grown up books (my first grown up book is the reason I have nightmares), I just wanted to sit like my parents and read big fat books. I saw my grand parents, aunts, uncles, parents read 800 pages and I would sit there with my puny little fairy tales. Booo!

My first big book was 'Robin Hood'. I remember this so clearly, it was a gift. I thought this was a grown up book. It was a green hard bound book, only now I realise that the book looked massive because of the font in the book, it was meant for children (well played, parents. Well played).

I had this tiny little world with my books in which I'd get lost for hours on end. I have beautiful cousins who never made me feel like I don't have "own" siblings. All that reading as a child helped me connect with them. In books I found companions who led me to better human companions, who I'd sit and discuss Sherlock Holmes, Asterix, with whom I'd endless discuss about the adventures, about wild life, these are people I would later in life talk to about my dreams, my fears. My books are my earliest memories because they paved way to make real connections.

Books helped me be on my own and in company, I never felt lost. In my absolute worst and in my absolute best, I've had my paper companions. My paper companions, who don't mean much if it weren't for the people they brought into my life. Each book I read has a person, has a memory, has a connection. It's not evident, but it's there. I can't quite tell you how it works. But by the end of a book, there is a name and face I can put with the book.

My earliest memory of reading involves reading books from the tiny beam of light that used to come exactly where I slept. I could read a little in that light. My parents would put me to bed and after pretending to fall asleep, I would sneak out my little book and read. My fondest memory was being "caught" for reading in bad light. (24 and perfect vision; all those carrots my mother fed me have worked)

My other really sharp memory of reading is of my grandmother, who was quite the rebel, she told me I should use a torch in the blanket and read! I mean, who says stuff life this? She did. When someone asks me, so when I started reading? I don't have a date, I've never not read. I come from a family who reads like their life depends on it.

I've had so many fruitful conversations, I've had deep fulfilling talks all thanks to reading. Through those books, I got to know people. When your pillar of a friend tells you she cried when she read something, or when your friend tells you he thinks the book you gifted is the best, you create a bond. Books were my bridges between islands, otherwise very different people all tied by this single thread! Of course, I am sure a lot of other things that help you get to know people, but for me it was books. The perfect ice breakers.

Over to you, Apoorva Kapoor. And this is incredible, I say this, because I know Apoorva exclusively through a book group!All the ice breaking happened over books.