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I finished a book last night that I refer to as fluff. I am an over-thinker and like to read books that I consider oil and gas for my working brain. They usually involve history, opinion, current events, biographies or something like that. Recently I read, “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell. That is an awesome book that will make you think. I had to stop reading it before bed because my mind went into overdrive. These books are a necessity. But there are times when I just want to enjoy a book and not have to think about what is being said. So for the past week or so I read “Sam’s Letters to Jennifer” by James Patterson.

It is a very easy read and quite enjoyable although a little sappy for me at times. One of the most interesting parts of the books, to me, was Sam’s relationship with Jennifer. Sam is Jennifer’s Grandmother and Jennifer points out that although she is very close to Sam, she doesn’t really know a lot about her life.

That got me to thinking (darn it!!!) about the wonderful older people in my life whom I think I know everything about (my Mom), but really know nothing. I know small details such as when she hula danced at a hardware store (this was in the early 60’s remember) and the time she tried to shoot her brothers with a b-b gun when she was little because they were taunting her, but I don’t know a lot. The book got me to thinking about what I would like to know from my parents.

So I have started writing down questions in a notebook I carry with me about questions I have or things I want to know so that the next time I see them or anyone I know and love, I will remember how important they are to me and how important their lives are.

This process has also made me more aware of my two children and how someday they too may want to know more about my life. So I try to document a little more and tell them more stories and let them know my likes and dislikes. I believe it may help them someday because I am sure when they are older, they will wonder why my husband and I make the decisions we do.

So I encourage you to get to know someone in your life who you may want to know better. Or just read Gladwell’s book if you are looking for a fictional example of how we truly don’t know even the people we think we know the best.