We have had the wonderful privilege of listening to “Because of Winn Dixie” on CD. It is read by Cherry Jones, a woman with a wonderful southern accent. I highly recommend it to anyone.

I was blessed this morning to hear C talking to J in a soft southern voice. I had to stop and listen closely. Then I started to chuckle. It made me proud to know that even though we live in the Central Coast, our library adventures are broadening our horizons. Once I mentioned it to her, she really started playing up the accent and having fun with it.

We are a crazy family...that hails from two similarly “unique” families. While both families would need to be traced, likely back to Adam and Eve to find a similar genetic marking, both were given to breaking out into song or stopping mid sentence to speak in a foreign dialect. For outsiders, I'm sure it is odd. To us, it is just part of who we are and it makes life fun...or is that MORE fun?

At lunch, we were nearing the end of the story where Winn Dixie is lost in a terrible thunderstorm. India Opal is missing her dog and experiencing a myriad number of emotions. This struck a bit too close to home for C who stopped in the middle of a cold chicken nugget and burst into uncontrollable tears. She couldn't bear the thought of Winn Dixie being lost and possibly never coming back. I had to encourage her to wait and to listen as I was certain they would find their sweet dog. (It certainly helps when you have already read the book.) Thankfully a wonderful reunion followed shortly after India Opal and her father had a tender and bonding time searching every recess of town in the pouring rain.

With birthdays for both of them just around the corner, my candleburning hours have been spent searching petfinder.com for a pet to expand our family and help our hearts during some of the changes and challenges of the coming year. We will need EXACTLY the right one...so I am praying.