Regarding: To Kill A Mockingbird

I picked up a reader's guide to Harper Lee's novel, To Kill A Mockingbird at the library on Saturday. The National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest has initiated THE BIG READ to restore reading to the center of American culture. THE BIG READ is a community reading project sponsored by Beloit College and the Beloit Public Library and funded by the NEA. Its goal is to have everyone in Beloit reading, re-reading, and talking about the book, To Kill A Mockingbird.

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A kick-off event for THE BIG READ in Beloit will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009 at the library. At the event, community leaders will talk about Beloit reading To Kill A Mockingbird, Beloit College student Ben Hartzell will read the first chapter aloud, and nearly twenty upcoming events and discussions about the book will be announced. I hope to attend.

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I also brought home a bookmark listing thirty other books which will be focused on in the future, including:

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The Great Gatsby

A Farewell to Arms

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

The Grapes of Wrath
The Age of Innocence

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

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I've learned several things about Harper Lee in the reader's guide. She became friends in the early 1930s with Truman Capote as kindergarteners in Monroeville, Alabama. Capote made editorial suggestions to Lee as she was writing her novel and Lee accompanied Capote to Kansas to help research In Cold Blood.

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One winter night in 1958, Harper Lee was attempting to work her unruly manuscript of To Kill a Mockingbird into a cohesive novel. Totally frustrated, Lee opened her window and tossed five years of work onto the dirty snow below. After immediately calling her editor, Lee went outside and rescued all the pages from the slush.

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To Kill a Mockingbird perched on the hardcover bestseller list for eighty-eight weeks. It won the Pulitzer Prize and the hearts of American readers. According to biographer, Charles J. Shields, Lee was unprepared for the personal attention she received. Ever since, she has led a quiet and guardedly private life. As Sheriff Tate (a character in Lee's novel) says of Boo Radley, "draggin' him with his shy ways into the limelight--to me, that's a sin." So it would be with Harper Lee. From her, To Kill a Mockingbird is gift enough.

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I've had a special place in my heart for Harper Lee's only published novel. I'm rereading it now and look forward to the scheduled upcoming events put on by THE BIG READ.

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Did you know all of this stuff or did I enlighten you?

Extra, Extra, Read All About It Here

It's not every day that a person gets his name AND picture in the Beloit Daily News. Well, my husband, Lon, was NOT ONLY in the BDN on Wednesday, August 26th of 2009, but his name and picture were also in the Stateline Shopping News as well on that very same day!

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When I found out that this familiar figure from our small town had made the news, I bought up several stacks of both papers and sold then for triple the price from all the street corners I could get to. "EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT," I shouted at the top of my lungs. Folks stopped their cars, ran from their homes, and stood in long lines to buy copies. The excitement I incited blurred their sensibilities and they paid extravagantly for a piece of local history.

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After frantically scanning the papers for the popular articles and being greatly impressed, several locals came back for more copies to send to their out-of-town friends and relatives. I eventually and unfortunately ran out of papers and was forced to send folks elsewhere for the hot items.

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I knew all of you, my blogging friends, would enjoy being a part of this momentous occasion. I'm beginning work on richly framed copies of the photos, Chia Pets in Lon's image and gold coins embossed with his image, all suitable and hopefully available for holiday gift giving this year.

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Ten percent discounts are available to all of you who come here regularly. Just write the word "SCAM" in the code box on your order form.

Sixty-One Candles This Year? Good Grief!

My husband, Lon, sprung into this world fully-charged on August 30th in 1948 and his battery hasn't run down yet. Don't do the math; I'll tell you flat out that he's been out and about for 61 years. (His favorite place is Lake Vermilion, MN, thus the photo showing him in his glory).

After a stretch of rainy and cloudy days, this morning pranced in wearing a vast blue hat and a wide-as-the-sky smile, a picture perfect backdrop for a birthday.

Ya know what? I'm really glad Lon was born. I'm even "gladder" we met and married. His love sustains me and maintains me, but never tries to change me. Our paths crossed a long time ago and our lives have woven closer and closer together, birthday after birthday. I've got lots to be glad about and to think about today.

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I've lit sixty-one candles and set them below. Just stand on your head and behold the blaze.

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

So without further ado:

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday, dear Ricky,

Happy birthday to you.

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I like to address Lon with names other than his own. Lately, I call him Ricky. It keeps him on his toes and, what the heck, variety IS the spice of life.

A Half-Assed Tour of Beckman Mill by Shaddy

My bike ride on Tuesday afternoon took me to Beckman Mill. I haven't been on a single one of the tours offered on Saturdays and Sundays, thus the title of my blog post. I have pictures of what I saw as I wandered around the grounds, but I can't tell you specifically what's in the photos.

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But wait now. Maybe I do have some knowledge to offer. Regarding that first building, I've been in a gift shop or two and I suspect a creamery makes cream and maybe butter? I can assuredly promise that the long, skinny, striped varmint on the sidewalk is a gopher. (I was thrilled and amazed that he stood still long enough for me to hastily fumble with my camera and shoot). One more thing. I know for a fact those big old yellow things are sunflowers.

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Heck, I'm a better tour guide than I give myself credit for. Why, you just listen up. I know for a fact that the sober-faced man isn't real (I pinched him and he didn't budge); he's a stuffed shirt, and trousers. His wife was standing on his right, but she was uglier and creepier than him so I high-tailed it to the next point of interest.

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I, sure as shooting, don't know a thing about the mechanical contraptions and I haven't the slightest idea what kind of foolery goes on at the Cooperage establishment. I do know a garden when I see one, but that orange thing growing in it is the color of a pumpkin but the shape of a squash. Why is life so cotton-picking complicated? Darned if I don't feel like an idiot from dawn 'til dusk, and then at bedtime I have nightmares.

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Wait a minute now. Please don't lose confidence in me; hang on for just a bit longer. It's time to get serious.

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I saved the most important thing I know about Beckman Mill 'til last. My youngest brother, John, and his fiance, Phyllis, will be married at the footbridge in September. Please join in hoping and praying that the day is beautiful for the wedding ceremony.

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Isn't that covered bridge an awesome place for a wedding ceremony?

Cycling My Way Back In Time

Tuesday afternoon proved to be a perfect day to be outside. The ingredients were partly sunny skies, eighty degrees and very little wind. I said to heck with the housework, laundry and bills.

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If you stop in here regularly, by now you probably can guess what I chose to do with my free time. If you guessed that I hit the road on two wheels with my Sony Cyber-shot, you are right on target.

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Within the first mile of my ride I passed the homes of four people who have been important in my life. Instead of only posting my normal set of photos, I decided to include a picture of their homes and a short clip about them.

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The first home belongs to Dena. Dena was flower girl in my wedding in 1969. She was darling with her dark hair in ringlets as she walked down the aisle in a long yellow dress trimmed with daisies. Dena now has a husband and two fine teenage boys. We see each other occasionally as we go about our lives.

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My sweet niece, Maria, and her husband and three boys live in the second house. I remember holding her hand and walking with her around my father's garden when she was just learning to walk. What happened to all the years since that day?

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Sue lives in the house just barely visible above the trees. She is the hygienist at the dental office where I work. Sue is a positive influence on the job and I appreciate her.

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After crossing the bridge over Rock River and seeing my odometer reach 2.8 miles, I passed another house with meaning for me. My cousin, LaVonne, and her husband live there. LaVonne is my age so we had lots of fun when we got together as kids. She and her sister, Sue, and I had lots of fun and loads of laughs. I loved to entertain them with my silliness.

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A high school friend, another Sue, used to live in the last house I photographed. I was pleased that she asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding which was held shortly after we graduated.

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When I reached the corner of Smythe School Road and Mill Pond Road (sorry, I accidentally posted the road sign after the barn photos), I was inundated with a whirlwind of childhood memories. Several pictures of the bright red barn and silo indicate all that's left of my great Aunt Violette and great Uncle Edwin's farm and home. My brothers, cousins and I spent some of our best times at that location.

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My ride ended up at Beckman's Mill. Since I've included lots of photos already today, I'll display those of the mill in my next blog post.

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I've slipped a bit when it comes to exercising recently and I paid the price today. Until recently, for years, I've exercised nearly every day. My twenty-mile ride today really left me pooped. It's surprising how staying in good physical condition requires constant dedication. I refuse to choose the option of biking less miles per outing. So what if I was pooped yesterday. It gave me an excuse not to exercise today. There IS a method to my madness, at least occasionally.

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What did you do on Tuesday afternoon while I did what I did?