After my car accident in December, I knew it would be a long road to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. I assumed it would take about a year to get me “fixed.” What I did not expect was that I would become the supplier of smut to my neighborhood. I know an explanation is needed.
I grew up in a large Catholic family. We did not discuss sex, ever. I thought I knew how it worked but finally got confirmation from my sister-in-law Mary when I was about 11. I had a few thoughts, which included: “That’s gross. You do that with my brother?” To say I was naïve was an understatement.
Once I got into high school, I made a few discoveries, including Cosmo magazine and the literary genius of Harold Robbins (The Carpetbaggers) and Jacqueline Susann (Valley of the Dolls). For years I was grateful that no one ever asked me who my favorite authors were because instead of Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, I would have to say those two.
I read a lot. It is the one hobby that minimizes any chance of hurting myself. Over the years, my taste for books has changed. I stopped reading authors like Robbins and Susann because it seemed the plots were always the same, and well, I traveled a lot for work. Sitting on an airplane you look around and notice what everybody else is reading, and to be honest, I was too embarrassed to whip out the latest musings of my two favorite authors while other business travelers were reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
After the accident, due to my concussion, I could no longer focus to read. After a few weeks of eye therapy, they suggested I read children’s books out loud. Having two grandsons, I had easy access. Once I could do that, they suggested young adult fiction. So, after watching the series Off Campus, I decided I would read the books the show was based on. The author Elle Kennedy has written a lot of books. I purchased four and read them in one a day. These were works that Robbins and Susann would be proud of—very entertaining, very graphic. I read 15 in total.
Years ago, we installed a Free Little Library in our front yard. I was hesitant to put those books out. Primarily because of what the neighbors would think. I did it anyway. and within four days, all 15 were gone. Yes, I became the smut supplier of Claverach Park. I can only hope my neighbors won’t be disappointed when I start putting out the ‘normal’ books I have been reading. My days of smut are over … for now.