by Nancy Imelda Schafer - ~§pyder~
Editor-In-Chief
[ Read About the Editor-In-Chief ]

Reading.

Just the word sounds relaxing. I remember sitting for hours reading chapter after chapter, enjoying my free time, and knowing I did not have to work, cook dinner, or be somewhere anytime soon. The books of my youth were epics, and lots of Stephen King. I remember laying in bed at night, reading Stephen King... fearful to turn the page and too scared to sleep. His writing, while passing the hours, kept me entertained and my mind open to intrigue.

Now, at 42, when I sit and read (when DO I have time to sit and read?) I am thinking subconsciously that I have a million other things that need tending to. In that light, when I do sit and read, I am filled with guilt.

Bill Gates The Road Ahead

Recently, while my daughter was in the hospital, I had plenty of time to sit and read while at her bedside. I suddenly realized that I wanted to read the four or five Stephen King books that had been sitting just waiting for me to open them. Yet, I craved knowledge. I figured, if I am in fact going to give myself the luxury of reading, I should be learning something. So I brought my Corel owners manual and read seriously about the powerful things this program could do for me. (Actually amazed... and pissed I had not read the manual sooner... just could never take the time.) Then I read Bill Gates "The Road Ahead." Yes, I was happy to read, and be learning something too.

It comes as no surprise to most of us, living a life in the adult world is much different than the bliss of childhood. When then, should we simply say; I'm going to sit and read a short story from beginning to end? When can we sit and relax when our schedules are so full? Are we confined only to the first section of the newspaper, or do we have the time to read the editorials and "living" sections of the paper? Would we opt to sit in an easy chair to read these papers, or would we click to the internet for our reading? 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... that brings me to my next point about reading. The Internet. The newspapers, the 24 hour a day - up to the minute reporting. Informative, online magazines... such as you are reading now. Last but not least... all of the writing, poetry and muse. My site, Spyder's Poetry Empire boasts 12 separate and distinctive "Empires" of writing alone, with nearly tens of thousand entries. Many people who surf my site, say they spend hours a day there reading. (I ask myself, when do they get anything done?)

The point is... it is time to read. To just make AND take the time to read. Be it a newspaper, (in my opinion, a newspaper is the most understated, underrated and taken for granted writing, learning and growing tool to date.) the internet, or a chapbook of short verses... lets read. Make the time! READ!

by Nancy Imelda Schafer - ~§pyder~
Editor-In-Chief
[ Read About the Editor-In-Chief ]