We Bought a Zoo

No, not us. But I did just finish We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee as my first book of 2012.
We Bought a Zoo is (former?) journalist Ben Mee's memoir about his family's 2006 purchase of what was formerly the Dartmoor Wildlife Park in Devon County, England.
The book was a quick read, detailing the family's decision to pursue the purchase of the park that has since been reopened and is now called the Dartmoor Zoological Park. The book also briefly touches on the illness and death of Ben's wife, Katherine, from glioblastoma (an aggressive form of brain cancer).
There were some very humorous parts and some very sad parts, but the emotion of the book is not so overwhelming that a reader is left feeling drained by its conclusion.
While the movie of the same name is only loosely based on the actual story, I am still interested in the film, which I believe is well done (hello - directed by Cameron Crow and starring Matt Damon) and interesting. And, being that I am a life-long animal lover, I'm now more interested in this family-run zoological park who has as one of its primary goals conservation and breeding of high-risk animals, I'm even more glad that I picked this book up.
Next up is a book I started several weeks ago and had to put down while in the midst of the semester - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.  I promise to let you know what I think.

Got a few issues, so what?

If you know me, you might hear me say, “yeah, I’m a little O.C.D. about that” or you might hear me say “yeah, I’m mildly dyslexic” or even, “yeah, that’s the A.D.D.” And you might think I’m joking, or making fun. 

I’m not. 

I have some issues. I am not a compulsive hand-washer or even a compulsive cleaner. But I’m compulsive about a few specific things. 

I worry that doors aren’t locked. 

I worry that seat belts are buckled.

I like the bed made a certain way, or not made at all. 

I like my computer files to be filed in labeled folders with names that make sense. 

I have to do things in certain order — if it’s a chore, I do the hardest thing first and end with the easiest chore (I deep clean before I strip the sheets). 

I have to run errands in a specific order — I go to the farthest stop from home first and work my way back home. 

And I won’t even start on packing a suitcase or the car for a trip. 

I’m 30-something and I don’t know my left from my right. Ask me to take a left turn and I can do so because I know that the driver’s side of the car is on the left. I know that I drive on the right side of the road. But to know left from right, I have to hold up my hands and find the capitol “L” (thumb and pointer finger) — that’s how I know which hand is my left. 

I transpose numbers. Often. I have to run my finger along a series of numbers and say them out loud to know that I’m getting them in the right order. I memorized the face of my phone and I memorize phone numbers so that I don’t dial 4945 when I mean to dial 4549. 

I start projects — big ones, small ones — and I get sidetracked by a book. Or a cabinet that’s out of order. Or a car that needs to be cleaned out. I make lists and I stick to them, or I get lost in the jumble of things that need to be done. I take notes and keep a notebook in a specific order. I highlight and use post-its to mark up special pages and chapters. I have ways of coping, but if I deviate from my plan then I find it almost impossible to get back on track. 

I promised honesty, so here it is. None of is perfect. We are all just doing the best we can in many instances. We check locks. We wash our hands . We make lists. We do the best we can. 

Wanna share your issues?