When I was 6 years old I came home from the first day of school and told my father that I had learned to write, not print, my name. He immediately took me to the local library and watched me write my name on my library card. Then he picked me up, swung me around the room, pointed to all the shelves and said, “See these books. Now all of them are yours to read.” It was my most memorable childhood experience. Now I try to inculcate the love of reading to my students and family members. Reading is the only avenue to every art and science past, present, and future. Thank you for your wonderful blog.
He was a great reader. When I was 8 years old I accompanied him one Sunday morning to the Mom and Pop store where he always bought the Sunday New York Times. I begged him to buy a comic book for me, and he reluctantly did. As we walked home, he looked at my slim comic, and then he held out the voluminous copy of his paper which contained 8 sections and 2 magazines and said, "Look what I got for my dime and look what you got for yours." I never read another comic book, and I still read the Times although it is no longer 10 cents. Sometimes I can even finish the Sunday crossword. He read great books until he died at age 89.
I could hear your voice while reading this. Only you could weave together Gandalf, the Nazis and Japanese poetry together so deftly. Well done. Thanks for sharing this.
This is such glorious fire! I feel uplifted and steel-spined reading it. Wish I could have heard it in person, but thank you for sharing it more widely here.
My mom is so excited to take my kids to that library when we are able to come down. It sounds *amazing* and just what a library promises to be.
Beautiful, Chris. As always, I loved every word of this. Also, I would have LOVED to be in that room to hear you set them straight in response to that "Indians don't have internet" comment. 😂
Awesome Chris. I hope we can find Issa and Buson in the Library too. In Montana we have a lot of work to do to return those indigenous libraries that were all but disappeared. Thinking of McNickle’s Wind from an Enemy Sky and how inextricably the fate of the Little Elk was tied to the fate of their medicine bundle. Would love to chat more sometime. —Karl
My mom had a vexed relationship to me being good at school, and the kid who learned to read at 4. We were in Sun Valley the summer I was 9, trying to recover from the utter implosion of our family, when I came out of the library in tears one day. The librarian wouldn't let me check out Jane Eyre, which was my talisman, because it was shelved in the adult section. My mom went in loaded for bear. She often talked about me being "smart" as though it was a problem, like my curly hair, but that day, she went all out in my defense. Made it very clear that I was allowed to check out any book I wanted. From any section.
I've often said that the only good thing about going to 6 different grammar schools, was getting a new library every year or 2.
I always look forward to your newsletters. I despair and I hope. And I just finished reading Braiding Sweetgrass. I wish I'd read it long ago. I'll be giving it as gifts this year.
When I was 6 years old I came home from the first day of school and told my father that I had learned to write, not print, my name. He immediately took me to the local library and watched me write my name on my library card. Then he picked me up, swung me around the room, pointed to all the shelves and said, “See these books. Now all of them are yours to read.” It was my most memorable childhood experience. Now I try to inculcate the love of reading to my students and family members. Reading is the only avenue to every art and science past, present, and future. Thank you for your wonderful blog.
This is a great story, Sandy. Thank you. I made sure my library friend who made it all happen saw your comment too.
Wow, Sandy. What a beautiful memory. Sounds like your dad had a great sense of ritual, too.
He was a great reader. When I was 8 years old I accompanied him one Sunday morning to the Mom and Pop store where he always bought the Sunday New York Times. I begged him to buy a comic book for me, and he reluctantly did. As we walked home, he looked at my slim comic, and then he held out the voluminous copy of his paper which contained 8 sections and 2 magazines and said, "Look what I got for my dime and look what you got for yours." I never read another comic book, and I still read the Times although it is no longer 10 cents. Sometimes I can even finish the Sunday crossword. He read great books until he died at age 89.
I could hear your voice while reading this. Only you could weave together Gandalf, the Nazis and Japanese poetry together so deftly. Well done. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks, Brooks.
This is such glorious fire! I feel uplifted and steel-spined reading it. Wish I could have heard it in person, but thank you for sharing it more widely here.
My mom is so excited to take my kids to that library when we are able to come down. It sounds *amazing* and just what a library promises to be.
It IS amazing. Your kids will love it.
Beautiful, Chris. As always, I loved every word of this. Also, I would have LOVED to be in that room to hear you set them straight in response to that "Indians don't have internet" comment. 😂
Thank you, Anni. You could have helped hold me back.
Thank you for printing this, for writing this for reading this on July 14.
I was going to ask you for a copy but here it is for sharing. Eventually MCAT will post the entire event on You Tube.
Thanks most of all for your friendship
💕Barbara
Thank YOU for everything you've done for me, Barbara. And for your friendship as well. I wouldn't be doing any of this without your support.
Thank you very, very much. Chi- miigwech.
Chi-miigwech to you too!
so good. thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Heather.
Awesome Chris. I hope we can find Issa and Buson in the Library too. In Montana we have a lot of work to do to return those indigenous libraries that were all but disappeared. Thinking of McNickle’s Wind from an Enemy Sky and how inextricably the fate of the Little Elk was tied to the fate of their medicine bundle. Would love to chat more sometime. —Karl
Thanks, Karl. Anytime!
My mom had a vexed relationship to me being good at school, and the kid who learned to read at 4. We were in Sun Valley the summer I was 9, trying to recover from the utter implosion of our family, when I came out of the library in tears one day. The librarian wouldn't let me check out Jane Eyre, which was my talisman, because it was shelved in the adult section. My mom went in loaded for bear. She often talked about me being "smart" as though it was a problem, like my curly hair, but that day, she went all out in my defense. Made it very clear that I was allowed to check out any book I wanted. From any section.
I've often said that the only good thing about going to 6 different grammar schools, was getting a new library every year or 2.
Smart with curly hair? We should all have such problems....
Chi- miigwech, Chris.
I always look forward to your newsletters. I despair and I hope. And I just finished reading Braiding Sweetgrass. I wish I'd read it long ago. I'll be giving it as gifts this year.
Thanks, Thomas. Braiding Sweetgrass is a hell of a gift.
Write on.
Thank you, Chris. This is beautiful.
Thanks, Emily.
What a wonderful rich experience it is to read what you post especially Issa and Buson included. Thank you for your truth telling way with words
Thank you, Diane.
Wonderful speech! I wish I could have been there to HEAR you say it! Such a beautiful building.
Thanks, Tammy. It really is a beautiful building.