Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Do Not Disturb :)


As a person who has adored books my entire life, I love that no matter what, I always have a ready (and sometimes preferred!) companion at my fingertips. I have blissfully spent many an hour wrapped up in the pages of my favorite novels.
Unfortunately, not everyone quite gets this concept.
A couple of weeks ago when my hubby was out of town, I decided to go out to eat by myself. I headed to my favorite local restaurant, requested a booth, reassured the waitress that no, I really didn’t want to sit at the bar (you know, since I asked for the booth and all), and settled in with my book to read.
When the waiter came to take my order, the pity was immediately apparent on his face. He slid into the opposite seat, cocked his head and smiled that smile one might give to a poufy dress-wearing teenager whose prom date bailed on them. “Just you tonight?”
Now, this waiter was a very nice guy, and I tried not to get impatient with him as he lingered to chat, but it was clear to me, as it so often is, that he believed a patron alone with naught but a book was a thing to be remedied.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. When he asked if it was just me, I wanted to say no—it wasn’t just me. It was me and the engaging characters I was enjoying in Lisa Kleypas’s Rainshadow Road. It was the sexy hero, and the wounded heroine, and her selfish sister, and the skanky ex-boyfriend, and yes – me. I was exactly where I wanted to be, with exactly the people I wished to be with at that moment. 
Interestingly enough, when Kirk and I were out to dinner last week, there was a woman at the table next to us who was engrossed in a book that for the life of me I couldn't see the title of. I almost stuck up a conversation by asking what she was reading, but I realized with a jolt that I would be doing the same thing that I hate others doing to me - interrupting her reading time!
Shame on me, dear reader. If I could forget such a thing, then I could hardly blame others! So I've decided, I should make a little sign to prop on the table when I’m reading alone next time that will hopefully get the hint across to others: “Caution—Reader in her Happy Place. Disturb at your own risk!”
:-)
So tell me – what’s your strategy for getting people to leave you be when you’re reading?  Are you one of those who the kids know not to come near when mommy’s reading? Or are you constantly being interrupted?

14 comments:

  1. LOL. Erin, that was funny. I can make you a little sign if you like and it would be super cute. The only place I went to read was a tea shop back home and they knew my date was kindle. I think I need to give my kindle a cool name, so I can say I'm not along I'm with ... (now I need to come up with a name). My iPad had a name of pinkie pad. However, it's cover in pink. Sorry I wasn't any help here other than offering my creative talents to make a sign.

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    1. HA! I would totally love a sign :-) And I love that you have 'dates' with the Kindle - as we all should! Let me know if you think of a name for her.

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    2. Who said my kindle was a girl. ;)

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  2. Ohhh, you're a better man than I, Gunga Din!

    I would've TOTALLY asked her the title--quickly, and with an expression of regret for interrupting her. But I would've wanted to KNOW that title right away.

    Then I would've downloaded it to my Kindle on the way home from the restaurant, and dug in right away.

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    1. LOL - I don't know if I could ever have the willpower to just ask for a title and not want to chat about it!

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  3. I'm with Eileen. Besides I think it's fine to ask a quick question like: What are you reading? Just don't have a full drawn out conversation about why she likes or doesn't like what she's read so far.

    I try to read when the kids go to bed, or carpool line. It the quietest times of the day for me.

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    1. Do you go to carpool early so you can have extra time? As for the reading when the kids go to bed, I tend to read when hubby goes to bed, lol. Its so much quieter that way!

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  4. Omg! I can just see that sweet waiter boy, angling for a good tip by chatting up the lonely, desperate customer. Ha! Hilarious! You totally should have gone off about the characters - that would have been a riot!

    I haven't gotten to read in peace in 2.5 years. Maybe when Bella goes to Kindergarten?? :)

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    1. LOL - Poor Jerrica! I know that sweet angel-toddler of yours would happily sit quietly while mommy read in the bubble bath ;)

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  5. While it's hard to ignore your waiter... if I'm reading, I'm usually 'hard of hearing' ... and my mom used to complain about my concentration while reading when I was way younger than now.. I'm also one of those who would say 'excuse me, but what are you reading? I love a good book..."

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    1. I totally know what you mean! About a year after Kirk and I started dating, he figured out that if he said my name while I was reading and waited, about a minute later my head would pop up and I'd ask if he said something. It took a long time for his inquiry to make its way past the story!

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  6. Great story, Erin - it's best to leave a reader be, especially if that reader is me. I just ignore, or try to anyway. Usually the only time I get to really read is bedtime (fallen asleep many a time) or when I am taking some private time in the - ahem - 'library' but even then my dh has been known to knock on the door and ask if I'm okay. What does he think? That I fell in? I don't bother him when he's in 'seclusion' so why bother me? Breaks the reading mind set. It amazes me that I read as many books as I do. : )

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  7. Haha:) That poor waiter kid, so eagar to help:) I actually would've welcomed it because there's nothing I hate more than eating alone. I can't read where's there's all that noise, so if I'm with a book in a restaurant, it is only because I am lonely and don't know what to do with myself...
    Although, one time, instead of a taking a book to read, I brought a small notebook to write in -- and was TOTALLY mistaken for a food critic! They brought me the most amazing food and gave me all these free tastes compliments of the chef. I did not correct their erroneous assumptions;)

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  8. I've taken to reading mostly at night before I go to bed. At that time, my son is winding down (or asleep) and I'm in my bedroom alone. I, like you, hate being interrupted while I'm trying to read. Is it just me, or is it only when the story is getting good that someone needs you? :) I also enjoy going to eat somewhere alone with a good book. I have to be careful though, I often lose myself in the story and ignore everything and everyone around me. One of the main reasons I don't read more during the day.

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