I started back to my school job at the end of July and have ignored my blog. With work, University of Georgia football, ALTA tennis, and keeping house, there are only so many extra hours in the day. But as I sit here in the Georgia Center lobby after Georgia’s win over Southern University (4-0, baby) watching Florida vs. Tennessee (go Vols), I thought I’d write a little something about my latest purchase from the UGA bookstore I’m really excited about.
Guess what two of my grand-nieces are getting for Christmas? Malcolm Mitchell, #26 wide receiver for Georgia, has written a children’s book! One reason I enjoy football is because of all the back stories, and Malcolm has a great one.
I believe it was against Clemson in 2013, first game of the season, when Malcolm made a great play (scored?) and jumped up to celebrate, came down wrong, and tore his ACL. This put him on the sidelines for months and months and gave him some extra time. What did he do? One afternoon he was browsing in an Athens bookstore and asked a middle age lady for a suggestion on a book to read. She told him which book her book club was reading that month. He asked if he could attend her next book club meeting. The fact that it was a group of middle age white women, much like my book club, did not put him off and he now attends their meetings.
This story is so remarkable because Malcolm entered Georgia reading at a 7th grade level. He used the extra time he had because of the injury to start reading for pleasure and a whole new world has opened for him. He inspires me because he took something negative and turned it into something positive. He now speaks to elementary students about the importance of reading, and now he has written a book!
I haven’t read his book yet, but it’s supposed to be about the magic of reading and the illustrations look gorgeous. Malcolm is certainly showing off on the field this season. He’s my favorite player this year. Of course I like Chubb too. And Sony Michel. And Isaiah McKenzie …
You may wonder who the third book is for … ME!
Go Dawgs and happy reading from The Happy Empty Nester!
The Happy Empty Nester 