My Mother was a Librarian so it only stands to reason that my siblings and I were exposed to books at a very, very early age, probably pre-natal.\u00a0\u00a0My\u00a0memories of my childhood home were the fireplace, the bookcase\u00a0that took up the entire wall next to it, and the window seat, on top of a radiator, \u00a0where I would\u00a0go to warm up after playing in the snow, dry my mittens and watch the birds at the feeder, that was\u00a0\u00a0next to the window and the evergreen\u00a0tree.\u00a0 I always looked forward to the weekly trip to the Ridgewood Library and my visit to the children’s section \u00a0downstairs, where I could pick out books to bring home.\u00a0 I specifically remember the day my Mother said I could stay downstairs by myself and pick\u00a0out books, take them to the little table that was provided for\u00a0children\u00a0and sit and read until she came back.\u00a0I had to be around four years old as\u00a0we would go to the library when my sisters were in school. From that day on the weekly trip took on more importance, as it meant for a short period of time, \u00a0I was completely on my own, in a world where even the furniture was my size. \u00a0How grown up was that?\u00a0 I have to mention there was a Librarian there with me, but\u00a0still\u00a0 in my mind I was alone. There was a period in my life\u00a0where I\u00a0was too busy with other thoughts and activities\u00a0that I didn’t read.\u00a0 It\u00a0really bothered one of\u00a0my sisters\u00a0that I could sit without a book\u00a0and just\u00a0stare into space, absorbed in my own thoughts.\u00a0 It \u00a0was easy, I was a teenager.\u00a0 Fast forward\u00a0to yesterday and while sharing a Holiday conversation with\u00a0one of my\u00a0sisters, \u00a0she mentioned she had made a Christmas tree out of books.\u00a0I\u00a0thought what a clever idea, but couldn’t quite imagine it.\u00a0 She emailed a picture to me and I loved it.\u00a0 I took it a step farther and googled Christmas trees made from books and up popped many sites to look at.\u00a0 At one site it said share on pinterest, I clicked that and it came up on my site on pinterest.\u00a0 While on pinterest I thought let me check out my\u00a0Va. sister’s site, and when I did that, \u00a0what a surprise, \u00a0she had\u00a0a Christmas\u00a0tree made out of books too. \u00a0 I think Mom\u00a0would be so happy to see\u00a0that her love of books lives on.\u00a0\u00a0You are probably thinking what does this have to do with The Villages.\u00a0 Well, \u00a0The Villages has\u00a0three libraries,\u00a0the Mark Twain Library at the Paradise Recreation Center, the library at 325 Belvedere Blvd., and the new one at 7375 Powell Road.\u00a0 We also have the Marion, Lake and Sumter County Libraries close by.\u00a0\u00a0 We have lots of Christmas Trees in The Villages, and who knows, there may be one made out of books in one of the libraries. \u00a0 I wouldn’t be surprised.\u00a0 In the meantime, \u00a0I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. \u00a0I\u00a0tried to forward just a picture of\u00a0a\u00a0Christmas tree out of books\u00a0 and couldn’t do it, however I\u00a0forwarded a site where you can see what it looks like.\u00a0 Enjoy.<\/p>\n