indiana territory

SUMMER'S STORIES & TIMEPIECES

Yesterday I came across a book I wanted and called Summer's Stories here in Kendallville to order it. I found out that the supplier had none on hand and I was advised to go ahead and order it from Amazon.com. That is so great - not that they didn't have it, but that they helped me get the best service I could.

I love to go in that store. I love the wood floors: I love the sofa; I love that chair where your feet stick out in front of you while you sit - think built-in hassock. And, okay, I love the books. Summer told be that people were welcome to sit down and read part of book to see if they wanted it or not. I have found that to be good: one book seemed to cry out to me to be read, but after I had gone through the first few pages and skipped to the middle to see if the basic tone of the book continued, I decided, "I don't think so" and put it back on the shelf.

One of the books I ordered from Summer's Stories was Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean. He's the fellow that wrote A River Runs Through It. Maclean was at the University of Chicago for a long time, teaching English and he really writes beautifully - imminently readable with a true respect for good, clear sentences. I find myself wanting to say some of the sentences over in my mind - and sometimes aloud. Maclean makes one want to write better by his example.

When my son, Quentin, had a birthday roll around in August, I prepared a package for him, which along with such classics as Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, included a copy of A River Runs Through It, the DVD of the movie and a copy - which I also ordered from Summer - of Young Men and Fire. I think I inscribed in the books, "Written by one gentelman for another to read" . . . or something like that.

Are you wondering about the bathroom reader? Yes, it doesn't sound like it is too proper, but actually it is a book - or series of books - chockful of all sorts of interesting facts. It has been a tradition to give him each volume as it is published.

I had another tradition; I used to give my father a book every Christmas and inside I would write, "I'll always love you, Daddy." He died in 2000 - February 10th - and the next year I found myself picking out a book for him and then it hit me that he was dead. But I bought it anyway, inscribed it, wrapped it and gave it to my mother. She opened it and put it by the chair where he would sit to read. The next year I did the same.

There is a stack there now by his chair. Anyone can read through them - he would have liked that. This year, as I was looking for a book, I saw Timepieces: Masterpieces of Chronometry and thought that it was something he would have enjoyed. I also thought of his grandchildren picking it up and learning from it as well. That would have really pleased him.

So . . . I walked up to the counter and Summer told me that it had been written by David Christianson who had the jewelry store just up the street. Had Daddy been living he would have probably stopped in to talk about the book with Mr. Christianson - and maybe learn some more things and whatever.

Actually, I was interested enough that I read it beofre I wrapped it - Daddy would not have minded - and then I wrote, "Christmas 2005 - I'll always love you, Daddy." and got out the scissors and tape and gold paper and the ribbon.

posted by Jody @ 10:55 AM