New Years

  I'm on the road in the Carolinas visiting kids and enjoying grandson Neil.   Neil's a ways from joining the next generation of readers, but he has plenty of laps to nurture his love of story.   In fact he just happened to receive "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silversteen from his Auntie Lauren & Uncle Eli who joined us for the New Year's get together.

    Shel Silversteen was quite popular in my undergrad days and it's been a while since I've picked up one of his books.   The story, not dissimilar to so many great tales, is poignant and sad.   A child's love affair with a generous tree fades under adulthood's preoccupations.  There are so many great writers who remind us of how growing up seems to invariably press childhood out of our souls.

  And then one day you're a Grandpappy giggling with your adult kids and grandchild. And maybe you recall that magical tree you slept under, played hide and seek under, learned and grew up under, that tree which arched over your nascent days.  

  I love that our neighborhood book box is under a beautiful tree, that this is a giving place and that kids are discovering Whitty Storeys.

Blessings in the new year.

Stephen
W/S Library Steward