One Book, One Bakersfield

Each year, the county library organizes a huge, county wide book club and it is called "One Book, One Bakersfield". A book is picked, local high schools and colleges focus on the book, book stores increase the number of the book chosen for their shelves and the county joins in to read. At the end of the year, the author will do appearances in Bakersfield, discuss the book and answer any questions that people might have.
Even though I'm not going to be a Bakersfield resident too much longer, I decided to participate. The book this year is called, The Other Wes Moore, by Wes Moore.At first I was hesitant to go and buy the book but now I'm so glad I did.

Here is what the back cover reads: Two kids named Wes Moore were born blocks apart within a year of each other. Both grew up fatherless in similar Baltimore neighborhoods and had difficult childhoods; both hung out on street corners with their crews; both ran into trouble with the police. How, then, did one grow up to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated veteran, White House Fellow, and business leader, while the other ended up a convicted murderer serving a life sentence?

The book is only 186 pages but it has really gotten me thinking about our lives and how we have gotten where we are in life. My mom has always told me "Every choice has a circumstance" and this book is the perfect example of this. Not only did I feel for the two characters in this book but I also got to thinking about my life. What if I chose the wrong path early on? What if I were born into similar situations and had no way to change things when I was young?

After I finished the last page, I couldn't help but close the book and say a short, but heartfelt, prayer. I'm so thankful that God gave me two parents that raised me in a Christian home, that had jobs that allowed them to supervise me, taught me values and that discouraged me from the wrong paths. Don't get me wrong, there were many nights that I was angry with my parents for not letting me go or do something but now looking back, I see that most of their decisions were made with my best interests in mind.

I'm always intrigued by other people's stories (that's why I love blogging and reading other blogs so much) and I can't help but feel extremely grateful for my life. God has been so good to me and my family.

**If there is another Ashley Conway out there somewhere then I'd love to hear your story!!