All-time Favorites

We all have traits, quirks, and abilities that come from our parents and some that are uniquely our own. Two traits I’m sure I have inherited from my Mother.  One I treasure, but the other one I regret.  The first is obvious; a love of books and reading.  The second trait that I could happily do without is sleeplessness.  Although I do have to say that those quiet middle of the night hours can inspire thoughts and recollections that won’t come during the busyness of the day.  

Not too long ago, my sleepless mother told me of a list she wrote during one of her long nights.  Born in 1927, she has had many, many years of reading behind her.  She decided to jot down a list of her top twelve favorite books of all time.  

                                A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott

Spring Came on Forever by Bell Streeter Aldrich

The Diary of a YoungGirl by Anne Frank

Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones

Heaven Tree Trilogy by Edith Pargeter

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Andersonville by Mackinlay Kanto 
The Call of the Wild by Jack London

               

I was happy to see that I’ve read six of those books during my lifetime so far.  I’ve decided to set a goal to read the other six within the next year.  

The first of these three is Ivanhoe.  I checked it out from the library and I’ve started it, but I’m finding the older style of language a little slow to get through.  Sometimes I have to go back and re-read a paragraph so I can grasp the plot.  The impending due date will keep me plugging away.

The second will be Heidi.  I know the story from watching the lovely movie that Shirley Temple starred in, but have yet to read the book.  It’s on my shelf, patiently waiting.  I’ll let you know when I finish it.

The third will be The Call of the Wild.  I’ve noticed that the Kindle edition is only .99.  Maybe this will be the first book I get for my future Kindle.  (Christmas is coming)

Next will be the Heaven Tree Trilogy.  I’ll have to ask if I can borrow this one, but it may be a few months before I get to it.  Perhaps this will be good summer reading?

Another book from the list I have yet to read is Cry the Beloved Country.  After checking out the reviews, I anticipate cherishing this read.

Last, I’ll tackle Andersonville.  This one sounds like it will be a tough but rewarding novel.  Historical Fiction has always been a favorite genre, bringing the past to life.

Besides inspiring me to read some unfamiliar books, this list has got me thinking of my own favorites.  Not having quite as many reading years behind me, I feel like I can only list seven so far.

The Wolves ofWilloughby Chase by Joan Aiken

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

We Took to the Woods by Louise Dickinson Rich

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

               

What are your favorites?  Not just the treasures you’ve read this past year, but your life-long all-time favorites?              

West from Home

Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder

San Francisco 1915

Edited by Roger Lea MacBride

Photo of Laura, Michelle, Chelsea and Haley at Laura Ingalls Wilder's home in Mansfield.

About fifteen years ago I had the opportunity to go to Mansfield, Missouri to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum.  Die-hard fans of the Little House on the Prairie books will understand why I got chills looking at Pa’s actual fiddle!  For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved those books.  As a child in the seventies, I was also a fan of the television show.  While the show’s storyline veered far from the books, the spunk of little Laura Ingalls still showed through.  She was bright, strong, and a just a little bit of a trouble maker.  Perhaps my admiration for that little girl is why I named my oldest child Laura.  

West from Home is a book of letters that the grown-up Laura wrote to her husband Almanzo while she was on an extended trip to San Francisco to visit their daughter Rose.  In these letters, Laura details so well everything she saw.  Growing up, she had to be the eyes for her sister Mary who went blind at a young age.  This obviously refined her skill for descriptive language.

At Land’s End I had my first view of the Pacific Ocean.  To say it is beautiful does not half express it.  It is simply beyond words.  The water is such a deep wonderful blue and the sound of the waves breaking on the beach and their whisper as they flow back is something to dream about.

Her letters describe more wonders, such as the first fireworks she’s seen, and the ships from many lands nestled in the harbor.  

What impresses me about her letters is the wonder she feels about what she experiences.  Now that we have HDTV and the internet that can show us video from anywhere in the world, and movies with mind-boggling special effects, it seems we have lost some of our astonishment at what is before our eyes.  Let’s not let that happen.  Let’s not lose our wonder for the simple but amazing things in our lives. 

Little Bear

By Else Holmelund  Minarik

Illustrations by Maurice Sendak

Copyright 1957

Considering its age, this book is in very good condition.  Well, except for the childish printing on the inside.  Apparently, I had just started learning to write and wanted to mark my most treasured possessions.  This book was certainly one of them.  I remember being read to and later, reading it myself.  

The first story in the book is titled What Will Little Bear Wear?  Little Bear wants to play in the snow, but complains that it is too cold.  Mother Bear makes him a hat to wear outside, and off goes Little Bear to play.  Time and again, back inside comes Little Bear to complain about the cold, and each time Mother Bear makes him a new, warm piece of clothing.  All bundled up, Little Bear comes in once again to say he is cold. 

“My little bear,” said Mother Bear,

you have a hat,

you have a coat,

you have snow pants.

Do you want a fur coat, too?”

Mother Bear proceeds to take off Little Bear’s hat, coat, and snow pants.  And guess what?  There is his fur coat!  Now when Little Bear goes outside to play, he is not cold anymore!

It just goes to show you; sometimes we look so hard for what we think will make us happy, when all along we already had just what we needed!

My Vacation at Jack & Jill Ranch

Outdoor vacations were a central, much loved part of my husband Mike’s childhood.  Each summer, the family spent a week at a little cabin on a lake; fishing, swimming, and hiking.  In fact, if it weren’t for the love of the outdoors, his parents, Victor and Madge, never would have met.  Before marriage and children, they each attended week-long vacations at the Jack and Jill Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan.  At the time, the Ranch was intended as an outdoor vacation destination for young adults, ages 18 to 35.  While they never spent a week together at the Ranch, they met at a social group for “Ranchers” who lived in the Chicago area.

This little souvenir booklet is hand dated by Madge, 1955.  In it are a few signatures and addresses of friends just met.  

The lyrics to fireside songs that have been passed on by them to later generations of Litwins are included.  

                Oh, Mr. Moon, Moon, lovely Mr. Moon.

                Won’t you please shine down on me.

                Oh, Mr. Moon, Moon, lovely Mr. Moon,

                Hiding behind that tree.

                Cause when your life’s in danger,

                And you’re on the run,

                There’s a man behind you with a great big gun.

                Oh Mr. Moon, Moon, lovely Mr. Moon

                Won’t you please shine down on,

                Never cease to shine on,

                Moon shine down on me.

According to the calendar page, on Thursday there was a dress-up dance and a beach party, Friday a horse show, and Saturday brought a weinie roast and farewell.

Inside the booklet is a postcard, written and addressed but never sent, in Madge’s handwriting.

“Hi, Having wonderful time, weather is nice”

I imagine she was having so much fun that she didn’t have time to send the card.  I also imagine that once she got back home to her coworkers in the Steno Department, she had plenty to say about her week.  While I’ll never know the details of her summer of 1955, I do remember the smile on her face whenever the Jack and Jill Ranch came up.   

What I picture is a simpler time. One full of fresh air, laughter, and friendship.