My Kindle has died.
Yes, let’s all take a moment of silence.
Before I go on, let me explain why the loss of my Kindle has made me inconsolable. I’ve always been a book lover.
Paper books. Mmm, is there anything like that smell? A little vanilla, a little ducking into the library to read because you don’t really fit anywhere.
But, then, the idea started to grow on me. Never being without a book because I can slip this small, lightweight techno-gadget in my purse. I’m a techie kind of girl.My two favorite things had made a sweet little baby capable of holding a thousand books.
A few subtle hints to my husband (reality: I pestered the hell out of him), and I got one for Christmas. Destitute from gift-giving, I filled it up with free books. FREE books. That I didn’t even have to leave my home to acquire. I read Pride and Prejudice for the first time. I read a bajillion more books. I found ways to read online articles and receive site feeds on my Kindle. I was suddenly reading at the doctor’s office, reading while I stirred food on the stove. Reading, reading, reading.
Since then, two years, they’ve come out with several new models and, what I’ve been eyeing for the last few months, the Kindle Paperwhite. In fact, my Kindle (billed as the top-of-the-line Kindle 3) became downgraded to the Kindle Keyboard and isn’t even sold anymore. Point: it’s old and ready to be replaced.
So, I’ll be happy to have my new Kindle. Reading in bed without lights on a screen that isn’t backlit! (I’m squeeing right now.) And yet, seeing my Kindle lying there, useless–I’m filled with sadness. We shared some pretty incredible times. I dressed it up, made it mine, filled it with magical stories that inspired me and helped me get through the hard times. It’s like my love of reading in physical form.
Okay, but what about those old Kindles?
Do you remember how on Toy Story 3, all the toys got donated (finally! Jeez kid, give up the toys already!) to a little girl who would love them just the way that kid in the movie did? Well, if you are a better Kindle caretaker than I obviously am and have an older model lying around, while you enjoy your new e-reader toy, then I have a suggestion for you. Donate it to the Kindle Classroom Project. I can think of no better purpose than giving the joy of reading to kids. Maybe, they’ll find a private corner somewhere and discover the place they fit, inside a story.
P.S. If you also have broken your Kindle, be responsible and recycle. Those batteries don’t belong in your local landfill. Amazon will pay for you to ship it back. I imagine they’ll mine it for parts before doing whatever it is one does with batteries that can explode when mishandled.
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Sorry about your kindle.
Oooh, good to know about recycling though!!!
Lori, I’m really sad to hear about your Kindle Keyboard (still my favorite model). But I am very appreciative of your kind words about the Kindle Classroom Project! Many of my students don’t like being seen with an actual physical book, but they secretly like to read, and they love showing off their Kindles. Thank you again for getting the word out!