By Emmy Poppinga
Anywhere can be a reading place if you try hard enough– at least for me. I’ll be sharing some of my top 5 locations to sit down and take a peek at the book you swiped from the book aisle.
No. 1: Costco Furniture Section
When I was younger, my father sat me down on a couch, chair or carpet roll with a book in my hand and told me to stay put while he shopped whenever I convinced him to let me come with him to Costco.
I always enjoyed standing guard over the shopping cart any time he came over and parked it next to me to find whatever else he needed– I never paid any attention to that. Costco has some very nice furniture– I would get so comfortable reading that some customers walking by thought I was a mannequin. Reading place: 9/10. Carpets: 6/10.
No. 2: The Middle of The Sidewalk
In elementary school I was a very social little girl, and as soon as the bell rang I made my way over with my mother a few streets down and parked my butt next to a Little Library, where I would select a book and recharge my batteries while my mom did… whatever she did while I read. I never paid any attention to her either.
Sometimes it would take only 15 minutes for me to finish, but sometimes it took nearly 45. I was always sore because of how hard the sidewalk was when I got up and we continued home, though. Reading place: 9/10. Sidewalk: 5/10.
No. 3: The Left Side of My Couch
My family couches are nice and cushiony– perfect to curl up with a book and read for however long I wanted. It was also right next to a lamp that I could turn on when it got dark. My pets join me literally whenever I sit down, so I can count on them to keep me company. Reading place: 10/10.
No 4: Hawaii Home Depot Flower Enclosure
I would pull this all the time in Hawaii when I was younger– I would sit literally anywhere with a book and read until my parents came back for me. My dad would go shopping for things for my grandpa (I never paid attention then either) and my mom would browse the flower sections and chat with random customers because she’s friendly.
There was always dirt on the floors though. Reading place: 8/10. Dirt: 1.5/10.
No 5: This One Rock at My Old Middle School
This was when I was in 6th grade and was going through a crazy time, so a good book and place gave me some relief. There was a rock in the middle of the school’s courtyard field and it was the perfect spot to sit against.
And a bonus was that the concrete underneath was actually pretty smooth. When I was younger my tuning-out was even stronger than it is now. Reading place: 10/10. Concrete: 9/10.