To Kill A Mind

Earlier this week, our summer house guest, a recent high-school graduate, told me over breakfast that he had never read a book in his life. As I stood over my stove scrambling eggs I wanted to throw the spatula at him, then I wanted to throw one at his parents, later I thought of the school system he attended, on and on and on. I cannot fathom his "book free" life. How does one do that and graduate? Of course, I am biased I have been in love with books my whole life. My earliest memories involve a book...Bambi, it's a classic. Later in third grade my teacher Mrs. Clark, who wore the loudest lipstick, bright orange, turned me on to the author Beverly Cleary.Our library at home was my favorite room in our large old Southern house, and my world wasn't right unless all the World Books and Craft Books were in order. I would search the house endlessly to find the missing K or W volume. By the grace of God, I then went on to boarding school where I spent hours in the 100 year old library discovering worlds unknown to me. You see my life wouldn't be complete without books. My kids, especially my daughter, are avid readers. I started them early and set a great example for cherishing books. We always traveled with their favorite books in tow, visited the bookstore often, and read in front of them constantly. It's one of my proudest accomplishments as a parent. Back to our guest, he did confess that he had started To Kill A Mockingbird, but couldn't finish it. I was sick...this is my favorite book and movie. My heart sank and I burnt my scrambled eggs.