A Rare Honor…

I went to my chiropractor today, to tend to a pulled muscle in my leg, that occurred a few days ago.

The office wasn’t that busy, and it’s usually a casual, family friendly atmosphere.

While I was waiting to be called back, a little girl (maybe 2 or 3) went over to get a book for her grandmother to read to her.

The little girl handed the book to her grandmother, then climbed up on her lap to hear the story.

I wanted to hear it too. Maybe more than the little girl.

I was almost ecstatic, but I just kept to myself in my little corner of the waiting area…listening very carefully to grandma’s tender voice.

The grandmother couldn’t read the english part too well, so she read the Japanese translation.

The little girl seemed to enjoy the book, turning the pages faster than her grandmother could read them. Finally, grandma gave up and relinquished the book to her granddaughter.

I was having a surreal moment, one that I thought I would never see. Ever.

The book was “The New Neighbor”…one of my first books ever published, and definitely “my baby” among my other ones. It’s slowly becoming a part of book retailer’s catalogs and websites around the world…and hope it continues to grow.

I had gifted a copy to the clinic a couple of years ago, as a token of appreciation for all the times they had kept me upright and walking. I have no idea how many have seen, or read it until today.

All I know is, as a writer, it’s an honor to discreetly watch someone take the time read and share something that you have written. No one ever expects to read a book, with the author being just five or so feet away. The book was in the habitat that it was meant to be in…no way was I going to upset that.

The little girl eventually put the book back in its place on the bookshelf for the next reader, and chose another.

I hope Ryo and his family have a new fan today.

I hope I have a new fan, as well.