Comfort–it’s that feeling that all is right with my world–a friendly arm around my shoulders, a snug blanket on a chilly night.
I’ve always found a great deal of comfort in the familiar, predictable things–places I’ve been, people I know and love, and books that bring up happy memories. I’ve finished reading some good, exciting mysteries recently but they didn’t leave me feeling comfortable. I didn’t want to begin another book, not knowing where the story would lead me; I wanted a familiar book, one that I’ve read a few times , a book that reminded me of where I was the first time I read it, so I pulled out a well-worn copy of Mary Roberts Rinehart’s mystery, The Red Lamp.
Of all the books Mrs. Rinehart wrote (she is one of my favorite authors) The Red Lamp is the best loved. I met this particular mystery in a used book store one summer in Minnesota many years ago. My sister-in-law Carlene, my mother, and I browsed through an attractive little shop, housed in a small, log building that was owned by one of Carlene’s friends. There, tucked away on a shelf was a book by Mary Robert Rinehart. Wonder of wonders, I hadn’t read it! So, that book went home with me.
Mom and I stayed in Tracy and Carlene’s guest house, a few yards from their main house, practically on the shore of their lake. That night, a fierce storm came up. Lightning flared, thunder echoed and rain pounded the roof. If you’ve never heard rain tearing through the birches and pines and spruce trees in northern Minnesota, you’ve missed something in life. Inside our little cabin, Mom and I were snug and, as it turned out, safe, but during the height of the storm, I had no assurance of that. I couldn’t sleep so I read. Once I started reading The Red Lamp, I couldn’t stop; after all, who could sleep when the wind threatened to fell trees and squash buildings? But, if the night had been serene with silver moonlight, I wouldn’t have slept anyway because I had to finish that book!
Finally, the storm grew still and I read the last page of the mystery. Sighing, I put it down, completely happy with the outcome and with the fact that my mother and I were still alive and, as the morning light showed, all the trees and buildings were still firmly rooted to the ground. Comfort!
So, now I will begin again to read The Red Lamp. I don’t expect a storm will keep me awake all night but the book may. I’ll enjoy every page once more and even though there are plenty of chilling situations and mysterious moments, it will be a most pleasant read. All the way through, I expect I’ll have plenty of cozy shivers and feel quite warm and comfortable.
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