Thinking about this week’s BeWOW, Writer’s Quotes Challenge was so easy for me, as easy as “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” as today would have been the 112th birthday of one of the writing world’s greatest treasures, Theodor Geisel, otherwise to be forever known as Dr. Seuss!
My parents read to us as though our lives depended upon every word. At the point were able to interact with them during the experience, we were introduced to such classics as “If I Ran the Zoo” and “Horton Hears a Who”. Sing-song rhyme and colorful illustrations were an irresistible combination. We would squeal with delight when we saw the books brought out and unleashed the crocodile tears when we reached the end. Why did we have to close our eyes to go to dreamland when we wanted to keep them open to experience the colorful characters in Seussland?
So, yes, my parents were big on reading and they instilled that love in each of us three children. To this day, each of us always has a book in progress, including my dad. When I call him (we have a standing Saturday night “date” call) he always speaks, with great enthusiasm, about what book he is currently reading.
My folks taught us how to read, but Dr. Seuss taught us how to think. He opened the doors to the imagination of possible, by tossing probable out the window. He bought us into his mind’s world and was so excited to have the company because he knew we’d want to return. It was like visiting a home, instead of a house. The books housed his words but his writings hit home because they were home. Comfort food for the intellect, ever and always.
I have included four of my favorite Seuss quotes into one meme because I really didn’t want to post just one. Decisions, decisions, eh? And of course, as I hit the save button, I realized there was one I forgot to add, so I shall put it here. “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
Still smiling Dr. Seuss. Each and every time I eat my eggs with green ham or put a hat on the cat…
Annette Rochelle Aben 