Every summer my brother, sister and I would all pile into the back of our family’s van with pillows and blankets, ready for the adventure ahead. Growing up my family took a vacation every summer to visit my Aunt Betsy and Uncle Knat in Arrowsic Maine. We always drove at night. My dad always said it was faster at night, but now I know it was probably just quieter. The eight hour drive was usually quiet once my brother and sister fell asleep, but I would always wake up to watch the passing lights of the New York City.

Maine was my favorite place to visit. I always looked forward to waking up just as the sun peeked above the trees as we’re driving up the long winding dirt road to the top of meadow lane. Then just as the sun is turning an orange glow you see it. The little pale blue house on top of the hill in the clearing. Surrounded by a big plush green grass yard and tons of wildflowers in all vibrant colors growing in all directions. Raspberry and blueberry bushes all growing wildly all the way to the forest edge. Then just in front of the house stood all tall thick white birch tree with a little swing that swung out over a hill.

That house was like a fairy tale to me. Enchanting and beautiful, with so much to explore; to discover. Inside, the whole house was connected and open. No doors closing off people from one another. There were so many windows, so it was always bright and sunny inside. The windows were never closed and so the house smelled of summer and the surrounding forest. In the kitchen window above the sink my aunt had a variety of plants growing. Some hanging and others placed on the window sill. Creating this beautiful little indoor garden. But the library was always my favorite. In the front corner room of the house there were book shelves covering all the walls. With books piled and stacked higher than I could ever reach. There were all kinds of books, from historical books about boats and wondrous places to fiction and novels, and of course my favorite, the many Doctor Seuss stories.

My Aunt Betsy a kind an earthy woman, always greeted us at the door. Her eyes wrinkling when she smiled. I always loved my aunt. She gave me a sense of peace and serenity. She had black hair with a thick white stripe down the side. She always wore bright colors and chunky jewelry made from crystals or rocks. I would sit with her in the afternoons on the sheepskin piano bench and listen to her play as the sweet summer breeze would blow through the windows. The music and the air swirled and danced together around me. It was calming and filled me with happiness.

Even with all the wonder the little house on the hill provided, the one thing I looked forward to the most was reading with my Uncle Knat. He’s an older man, but doesn’t look it. Tall and lanky with dark leathered skin from working out in the sun. His clothes always splattered with paint. His dark floppy hair barely grazing his round glasses. He was fit from working and hiking; he had always been adventurous.

In the evenings my uncle would read to us. My sister and I would sit on his lap in the small open living room. The setting sun would shine in through all the open windows setting the room ablaze in orange and red. He would read to us as many Dr. Seuss books as we could carry. On every page he would point to the pictures and make each character say something funny. While he was reading to us my sister and I would laugh and laugh until it hurt our sides. My aunt would sit in the corner and play the piano. The sweet summer notes would drift through the air as my mother was in the kitchen cooking. I would always be happy and at peace with the world here. Reading and Maine became an escape from all bad things for me. Because of my Uncle I began to associate reading with laughter and happiness.