Looking Back

I believe it was Professor Squigglee who once - or maybe twice - said, “I’m not against looking back. Go ahead, if you must. But I try to avoid it if I can ... because I never know who I’m going to bump into - and vice versa - while I’m doing it.”


-S&G-


I try to avoid looking back, too, but not necessarily for the same reason. I also try to avoid looking too far ahead. 


And how far is that?


Oh, it varies. Let’s just say that I scan the immediate terrain - especially when I’m driving. But I don’t spend much time studying the distant horizon and trying to guess what’s on the other side. It will likely change before I get there anyway.


Even trying to plan the whole day sometimes opens up a whole can of surprises. 


But I do sometimes take a peek at tomorrow.


Tomorrow? Why, unless my calendar and I are both mistaken, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day! So-o-o- ... HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY (a little early, but I hope you won’t mind).


-S&G-


And now, I hope you won’t mind, either, if we do a little looking back down the trail. We’re not driving and talking on the phone - or texting - while sipping on our morning coffee, are we? Fine. I think we can do a little looking back without suffering a resounding WHACK!


-S&G-


Come with me, if you will ... all the way back to MONDAY, July 28, 2003 ... when “Squiggles” was a “newsletter” being e-mailed to willing readers all across the land (that was before AOL put a stop to THAT).


The leading item in that issue: “Well, hello, Kansas! Actually, hello to LOREE, who has just joined the growing list of readers ... she’s from Kansas, and, well ... she can introduce herself, if you’ll just pay a visit to her web site: 


WWW,POETRYBYLOREE.COM


... but a word of caution ... hold onto your hat ... and maybe slip into your dancing shoes ... this is a happenin’ site ... I think you’ll enjoy it ... but don’t forget to come back, OK?”


-S&G-


Then on MONDAY, July 14, 2003, the QUOTE: “Happiness sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.” - John Barrymore


-S&G-


Same 2003 issue: GOLD STARS - First to respond last week was John from Florida ... if this seems a bit disjointed, it’s because it is ... I just jumped out of my chair ... a nearby crash of thunder sent me running to close windows ... and then there was Marge, from Ohio ... Walt from Ohio came in loud and clear ... and Doris, from Ohio, too. Each will have credited to their account one of the Marvelous Mythical (did I say Coveted, too?) Gold Stars. And remember, when you’ve earned a sufficient number of Gold Stars ... well, you may, at the very least, take the rest of the day off.”


-S&G-


More recently ... Geography Facts from WALT (Ohio): Ninety per cent of the world’s ice covers Antarctica. This ice also represents seventy per cent of all the fresh water in the world. As strange as it sounds, however, Antarctica is essentially a desert. The average yearly total precipitation is about two inches. Although covered with ice (all but 0.4% of it, ice), Antarctica is the driest place on the planet, with an absolute humidity lower than the Gobi desert.


-S&G- 


This from HELEN (Florida): You know you’re a Floridian if ... Socks are only for bowling.


-S&G-


This also from HELEN (Florida): A (fill in the blank) TEST FOR OLD KIDS - After the Twist, The Mashed Potato, and the Watusi, we “danced” under a stick that was lowered as low as we could go in a dance called the “__________________.” 


-S&G-


TODAY’S POEM:  I think a love poem might be in order today ... this one  mainly about my eighth-grade teacher, who stirred an abiding interest in reading in me.


It's also about the librarian I met at another time, in another town, as a result of my interest in reading. That librarian and I are still sharing a mutual interest in reading, and she is the one who listens patiently to the things I've written.


But, getting back to the main thread of the poem: I was so glad when I was able to visit my former teacher, Miss Pearl, a few years ago, to thank her for imparting her love for reading ... and to introduce her to that librarian, my wife, Phyllis.


The poem:




MY THREE LOVES


Could Miss Pearl have known
that her own love of reading
would so transform the life


of a hungering eighth grader
whom her gentle, healing voice
touched with daily readings?


Fragile fingers softly turning
the pages of her beloved books,
she made visions of mere words,


openings to worlds where people
could dream, hope, and achieve.
These, she told us, were worlds


where we, too, might go, in fact,
belonged. Did she know, or did she
merely dream the teacher's dream


that the tiny seeds might endure,
take root, flower? Did she know
that her devoted love of reading


would become my own, eventually
leading me to that certain library
where I would find you? How else


could she have sustained herself
through those despairing years?
Questions still seek answers,


but of this I'm sure: Her gift,
so freely given, became more dear
than I, or even she, ever dreamed.


(originally published in Capper's)


-S&G-


COMMENT? Feel free ... below, if you like. 


Or if you prefer e-mail, that's fine, too ... especially for more detailed observations, to


 rbrimm@peoplepc.com


... and it helps if you put "Squiggles" or "S&G" ... something like that ... in the subject line (just remember, no religion or politics ... please!)


-S&G-


And if you’d like to see what’s up with my other ... DAILY blog ... here’s a link to it:


http://rbrimm.blogspot.com/


Thanks for paying a visit.




-S&G-


UNTIL NEXT TIME ... take care ... see ya!


-S&G-


Oh, and the answer to the TEST FOR OLD KIDS: The Limbo.


-S&G-


©  2010