Opinions

It has been said that J. K. Rowling has coaxed more kids into the reading habit in this century than Dr. Seuss did a generation ago. Her Harry Potter stories enchant and entertain adults and kids alike, and while both authors have influenced movies and television, I think their greatest contribution to society has been in the cause of literacy. Tempting children to read, to prefer books to the more passive activity of sitting and watching the screen, not only establishes the reading habit; it requires the exercise of imagination.

For all the years since 1971 that I’ve lived at my present address, a single wild rose plant has survived at the edge of the gravel road that dead-ends at my house. Every year, it has bloomed in June or July and, every year, it has been mowed off soon afterwards by the county crew that keeps the roadsides trimmed so tall weeds and grasses don’t obstruct the view of drivers and cause accidents. I appreciate the need to keep obstructions from growing at intersections and access roads, but I’ve always thought mowing off everything that grows beside the road to be a bit of overkill.

A recent visit to my hometown involved my usual tour of former homes and other familiar places. This is a slice of pure nostalgia sprinkled with both dismay and amazement at some of the things that have changed since I lived there.

Now that Memorial Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and the graduations are out of the way, we have time to sit back and think about what those observances mean to us. They are about people in our lives, their achievements and the contributions they made to the world in one way or another. While most such celebrations honor the past, graduations are more about the future. Granted, the graduation ceremony itself recognizes accomplishments and celebrates the completion of a stage in learning. Graduation is also called Commencement, and that word means “beginning.”

I seem to watch more television these days than I once did. I suppose it’s because I’m not as busy– physically, at least, though my mind continues to flit around like orioles in the orchard and has me believing I’m busy even if I’m not. I used to hear television more than see it. I’d catch the news while I was cooking supper but it was mostly audio– the video consisted of mere glimpses, and continuity was spotty since the remote was always in someone else’s hands. Today, I get control of that little black box and am allowed to sit and watch every minute of a program.