It’s no secret that Marija is an avid reader. She LOVES reading. Every day at work feels like “storytime with Marija,” except instead of picture books, I’m getting the play-by-play of thriller plots, murder mysteries, and twist endings that sound like they belong in a Netflix documentary. The best part? She reads everything… so I don’t have to. I just sit there sipping coffee like, “Wow, that guy did WHAT on page 312?”
But the real twist this year was when Marija invited my daughter to the public library. And ever since that moment, the reading bug moved into our house, unpacked its bags, and decided to stay forever. Kara reads all the time. I’m talking on the couch, in the car, at the table, probably in her sleep. Half her Christmas list this year is books, especially anything even remotely related to Stranger Things. If a Demogorgon is on the cover, take my money.
So now we’ve got two bookworms in my life, and guess what? They’ve officially recruited me. Because there’s one thing I already know I’m doing in 2026—and I’m positive Marija is too—and that’s going to the Lee County Library’s 27th Annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival…