I started reading Stephen King when I was 12.  I think my parents thought that books of any kind were OK for me, no matter what the content.  Despite being introduced to highly adult themes in a horror setting at a very young age, I turned out OK.  Sometimes I think that’s because all my reading gave me an education that taught me to think for myself, and clowns are scary.  Sometimes I think I was like the majority of kids and understood that what is in books and on TV isn’t necessarily real life and therefore “don’t try this at home”.  Oh, and clowns are scary.

Some of today’s quotes are from King’s books I read when I was much younger, and some are from his books that I’ve read as an adult.  None of them are from IT because, in case you didn’t already know, clowns are scary.

“The mild, spicy smell of old books hit him, and the smell was somehow like coming home.” – The Wastelands

“In this world Dr. Seuss was king, Judy Blume was queen, and all the princes and princesses attended Sweet Valley High.” – “The Library Policeman” in Four Past Midnight

I spent a lot of time in libraries or in my bedroom reading the books I checked out.  I learned to read from Dr. Seuss books, there was a copy of Are You There God?  It’s Me, Margaret in my Catholic school’s library, and I even read a couple “Sweet Valley High” books before moving on to more interesting reads.  The smell of books is truly like coming home for me.  I’ve moved from place to place so many times throughout my life that the only constant no matter where I’ve been has been books.

“Music hath charms to soothe the savage beast.” – The Stand

A close second to books is music.  I’ve been places where I had no music.  Fortunately, my stay in those places was short, and I still had at least one book.  I use music for just about everything.  Music helps me wake up, get out the door on time and through my commute without road raging.  It helps me focus and makes work/chores more enjoyable.  It supplements whatever I’m reading, and most importantly, it’s a mood corrector.  I would love to be able to drop everything and hide away with a book any time I’m in a bad mood, but when I can’t do that, I turn up the tunes and scream-sing myself into happiness.  This usually occurs in my car or when I’m by myself at home.  I don’t believe in torturing others to make myself feel better.

I’m ending today’s Quotables with a humorous toast.  I won’t be posting anything next Thursday, since it will be Thanksgiving.  So, this quote is for all of you:

“To us, Stu.  May we have happy days, satisfied minds, and little or no low back pain.” – The Shining

Clowns are scary.