“I’m what they call “a reader.”

If I’m conscious and I’m not enjoying the great outdoors, you can bet I’ll be reading a book.

Through the years some have called me a bookworm. I don’t know where that expression came from but, I wouldn’t be happy being a worm.

All I know is I am content when I’m reading a book.

When I want to learn something new I read for knowledge. The rest of the time I read for pleasure.

If someone asks me what book I’m reading, I often have to glance down at the title to tell them because I quickly go through so many books a week.

In a way, for me reading books is like an addiction. Like someone who tries to keep alcohol consumption under control, I have to consciously be on guard to avoid letting my reading get out of hand.

I sometimes hear people say they limit their drinking by not having a drink before 5 p.m.

In much the same way, I have a rule that says I won’t read during daylight hours. If I do, I get caught up in the book and then I squander my daylight hours by staying inside instead of enjoying the Florida sunshine.

When you love to read, if you’re not careful you can get so caught up in a good book that you lose track of time and circumstances.

My mother told two stories about how I block out the world when I have a good book. Both times I caused her to panic.

I was only about 7 or 8 when my mother needed to take her friend to the doctor’s. The agreement was that her friend’s neighbor would watch me until my mother got back. They assured her I wouldn’t be any trouble because I would sit quietly and read a book.

The neighbor didn’t understand English too well and she didn’t talk to me.

I was a small kid and I loved to crawl into small spaces. The neighbor had a big dresser in one room with vinyl flooring. It was a hot summer day but it was cooler on the floor. I curled up under the dresser and got caught up in reading my book. Eventually I fell asleep there.

When my mother came back, the neighbor said she couldn’t find me. She went through her entire apartment several times but didn’t know how I managed to disappear.

My mother kept demanding to know what the woman did with me. It was only when I heard my mom’s panicked voice that I woke up and crawled out from under the dresser.

When I was 10, another one of my disappearing acts led to my mother calling neighbors to form a search party. She had left to go grocery shopping and told me not to leave the house until she came back.

I had a new Nancy Drew mystery I was reading so I curled up in one of my favorite reading spots - the space under my high bed. There was just enough room and enough light to read comfortably.

Anyone who remembers those Nancy Drew adventures knows how they could capture a reader’s attention to the exclusion of all else.

When my mother came home and called me, I didn’t hear her. She went through all three floors of our house, panicking when she couldn’t find me.

Because I always loved playing outdoors, my mom figured I went to play with friends. They told her they hadn’t seen me all day. That’s when my mom started to sob and asked the neighbors to form a search party because it wasn’t like me to disappear into thin air.

Caught up in Nancy Drew’s adventure, I had no idea all that was going on. While everyone was going through the neighborhood calling my name, I finally finished the book and went out on the porch.

By that time my mother was so shaken she could barely walk. “Why didn’t you answer when I called you?” she demanded.

She couldn’t punish me for disobeying because I was under my bed, lost in another world.

I’ll tell you one world I loved back then - our local YMCA library. Housed in an old mansion, the Y was filled with glorious books. They had strict rules about what books kids were allowed to take home. It had to be age appropriate.

After I read every single book in the children’s section, the librarian gave me permission to take books from the adult section.

To this day, I love libraries. I now belong to two county libraries. During this pandemic when many of my activities are canceled, I do a lot more reading than I used to do. Books help save my sanity. On any given week, I take out five books, sometimes more.

My husband is the same way. Sometimes he gets so engrossed in a book that he wants me to hold off dinner because “he’s at the good part.”

The strange thing about my reading addiction is that through the years when asked to list my hobbies I never put down reading. I list dancing, kayaking, biking and fun activities I do with friends.

Reading is solitary.

It’s my lifetime addiction and solitary joy.

Contact Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net.