Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom (And Whimsy)

Posted on June 19, 2024 under Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom with no comments yet

Bedtime stories

“Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?

It took me years to write, will you take a look?

It’s based on a novel by a man named Lear,

And I need a job, so I want to be a paperback writer.”

Paperback Writer – The Beatles

Bedtime stories.

Librocubicularist. “The sesquipedalian librocubicularist (say that five times quickly after a glass of merlot!) is the name of a person who reads books in bed.”

If you were one of the lucky ones, your parents (usually your mom) read to you in bed. Not only was this a sure-fire way of getting you to close your eyes and go to sleep but it was also the start of you imagining the world in shapes, colors and sounds through the magic of books. Any reputable study will show that children who are read to at an early age develop language quicker than those playing a video game.

And then, along came Dick and Jane.

To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t an avid reader for much of my life. I tended to go in fits and starts. When I was a teenager, I was far too interested in sports and girls and had little time to read. I had modest success in sports but failed miserably in the other pursuit.

I read a lot during my university years, but my marks indicated that I obviously didn’t read enough. I was too busy playing sports and chasing young women. I played golf, Junior B hockey and even made the St.F.X. football team as a kicker. Still wasn’t able to make the grade with women!

“The years passed us by like a soft whispered sigh,

Not noticing youth as it flew.”

Now that I am retired (am I retired?!), I consume books almost as fast as sugared donuts. I have become a true lectiophile – a lover of reading. So far in 2024, I have read 25 books and am on pace to read 50 for the year.

Those of you new to my writing (all you Guysborough Journal fans) will soon discover that I have written and published 7 books of my own. If you’re having trouble sleeping, pick up a copy at The Curious Cat or 5 to $1.00. Certain to cure insomnia!

Turning the page…

I’m still conflicted about the notion of eternity and paradise. I’m pretty sure I know what hell is all about. Most days, I’m convinced that paradise is on earth. If life hasn’t left you too harried, think about the things around you. I fully expect that if there’s a heaven, there will be lilacs blooming every day of eternity. We’ve just come through lilac season in our part of the world. Is there a more delectable smell? How about the soothing sounds of a gurgling brook? The awesomeness of a sunrise or sunset. If there is a menu in the great hereafter, I am hoping that the angels serve Bailey’s Irish Cream crème brulee.

And Mozart, all day and night.

Epilog.

I just finished a 4-day stint as a music teacher at a P-8 school. In this school, music classes are 30 minutes long so there is steady traffic every minute of the day. For these four days, I had a steady diet of ukeleles and boom whackers. Now I know why liquor stores were invented. I’m usually game for a substitute job in music because if all else fails, I still have my trusty guitar ready to play Country Roads or Sweet Caroline for the 1000th time.

And speaking of paradise, stay tuned next week when I will be publishing a story about Seawind Landing Country Inn, a slice of heaven perched on the shores of Tor Bay.

Have a great weekend.