Sometimes I truly am such a nerd.  I got so excited Saturday to receive a shipment of research books I had placed about a week ago.  The second half of the order should arrive today, which means I have my ears peeled for the distinct hum and murmur of the mail truck driving down our street and pausing at each batch of mailboxes.  Now, who doesn't enjoy receiving a package in the mail, expected or not?  But I have a feeling that not everyone gets so enthusiastic about receiving materials that amount to basically textbooks.

I love doing research for my books.  I love to learn about new things and connect that knowledge with the other factoids stored in my brain.  I suspect this makes me a bit of a nerd, but I don't really care.  It's who I am. 

Studies have shown how beneficial it is to stretch the brain by learning and trying new things.  It keeps you young.  It keeps your synapses firing quickly.  It boosts your memory.  And it helps you adapt to the ever-changing times we live in.  (It also comes in darn handy at board games like Trivial Pursuit.) 

So, I'll continue to wallow in my tomes, thank you very much.  Be it about the tumultuous politics of Regency England, the often unsung heroics of nurses and ambulance drivers in World War I, or the ghost stories and legends of Scottish castles.  You never know when that knowledge might come in handy.