A Post About the Time I Declared My Love for Snape to (almost) Strangers

Last night I got some advice about blogging, and one of the things that was suggested I do is write a post explaining a little bit about myself.  This is difficult for me to do for a couple of reasons.  The first one is, I don't like to do it.  When I have to do this, I can only think about things that would scare people.  Like the fact that I get really annoyed that the lines on college ruled paper are not as narrow as they used to be.  (I've measured them.)

The second reason I don't like to do this is that I can't believe that anyone really cares.  If you come here at all, you are thinking about books, not about learning that I cried in the movie "Ghost Dad."  Starring Bill Cosby.

However, I might've found a way to address both my love of stories with my apprehension to share.  So here goes.

Last night, we were invited over to a new friend's house for dinner.  She is my new blogger friend who happens to live nearby.  I recently joined the DC KidLit Book Club, which she started, so I knew if all else failed, we'd be able to talk about books. 

Oh my goodness, did I have fun.  She showed me an autographed copy of Jerry Pinkney's The Lion and the Mouse. This year's Caldecott Winner. It's signed not only by Pinkney, but I believe his publisher or agent as well.  "Because," she told me, "I believe everyone has value."  So she tries to get as many signatures on a book as possible. 

She told me she went to Brandeis, and then said that she always gets three responses: "I've heard of it," "Never heard of it," or, "You must be Jewish."  I told her that's what everyone says to me too, when they hear I went to Calvin.  Except that the last sentence is usually "You must be Christian Reformed."  I should've added Dutch to the statement as well.  "But," I added quickly, "that's where Gary Schmidt teaches."  And then the topic turned to his book Trouble.  We both agreed that was our favorite of his books.  "He was robbed of the Newberry,"  she said.  I agreed wholeheartedly.

When we sat down for dinner the discussion turned to Harry Potter.  This woman is a Harry Potter whiz.  Ask her anything about the books, and she can give you not only an answer, but a great anecdote to go along with it.  I was recalling the time I was reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in a coffee shop and I was so worked up when Dumbledore died that someone came over and asked me if I was OK.  This sparked a discussion on how sad this scene was, but how perfect, too.  We all agreed it had to be done and continued to discuss the roles Snape and Malfoy played in this scene, as well.  I then said, loudly, "I love Snape!  I've loved him from the beginning!"  My new friend turned her head and started to laugh, and it was at this point that I realized I probably would've been better off asking whether anyone knew where to buy some appropriately lined college-ruled paper.

But that's what happens when I start talking about books to people who seem to enjoy them as much as I do.  I think Meg Ryan in "You've Got Mail" said something like "When you love a book it becomes a part of who you are", and chick flick movie or not, I agree.

It was a great night.  I even left with copies of Just Me and My Little Sister by Mercer Mayer and Bear Wants more by Karma Wilson (illustrated by Jane Chapman).  I know these will be well read by the H's in months to come. 

I don't think I can write down 100 things about myself, and I certainly can't write down a list of all the books I wrote, which blogger conferences I've attended, or what my Twitter handle is.  But I can say that I love books, and I love to write.  It's nice to meet someone else who does, too.

Now if I could find some nice college ruled paper, life would be splendid.

**You can check out the blogs Wizards Wireless and Booklights to see her in action.  I particularly like her posts in "Booklights" about what a librarian does.  I think my mom would like the one about trying to find a book that has  "a hippo holding a lemon."**