Lost and Found

I can't tell you when exactly it started happening.

A particular pattern showed up in my life.

Long before I recognized what was happening, this pattern took me on a wild ride. 

A ride that would continue over two decades.

You see, for as long as I can remember, writing and words have felt like a part of my soul's identity.

Even now, I can still feel the exhilaration and desire of wanting to learn how to read and write as a little child.

At about three years old, I became obsessed with storybooks. 

One book had a matching lime-colored cassette tape.

If you don't know what this is because you're young, it's a small rectangular music storage device. Think of it as a predecessor to the CD or an iPod.

Anyway, I lost count of how many times I played, listened, and replayed that green cassette. 

I remember it like it was yesterday.

The excitement of getting the cassette player ready. 

The solid click sound that told me I had set everything up correct.

The soothing tone of the deep American voice telling me about Treasure Island.

How my imagination blossomed in new, exciting ways.

Even the way the sun moved across my room felt magical while immersed in the experience.

I followed along, matching the words on the page with the cadence of the narrator's voice. 

The chime of the bell advising me when to turn the page.

I could not get enough.

Then school started.