I saw a fill-in piece on my local news recently about illiterate adults. These illiterate adults though were soon to be, or already were now literate. The first step to becoming literate when you're an adult is of course admitting it to yourself and coming to the realization you live in an alien world. The feel good part of the piece was the teachers and the look on the faces of the former illiterate after reading from a book for the camera. I would think it would be the equivalent of fighting off alcoholism and seeing the world with clear eyes after being in a fog for a long time.

In my imagining I would think like anything new you would want to use it a lot, so they would avail themselves to a library. When they opened those doors for the first time a new world, millions of new worlds will be theirs to devour through their newfound abilities. I get excited thinking about all the worlds available, and the wonders they will experience. I have been using libraries for my whole life of seven decades now and haven't even touched the surface so to speak.

I remember some books I read sixty years ago, some very clearly. I was an only child, I'm not complaining, and I read all the books in a series about a teenager in high school named Chip Hilton. To me he was a big brother I could learn from. I remember him fondly.

I always have a couple books I am reading and always will I suppose. They are friends that live a much more active life than I do now, but that's what they're supposed to do. They spark our imaginations and transport us to land we will never visit, do things we will never do, make us think of good or terrible things. Books can put our minds into overdrive or act as a sedative and calm us down and mellow us out, to borrow a phrase from the sixties, which you can read about also.

Books are cool, they are great, they are a gift and a companion through all our lives.

I scanned an article in the latest issue of Harpers that asked the question, do we read as much as we used to? As I recall the article they say American reading topped out at around 1950, and from there on it has gone downward.

I myself don't read as much as I used to for a very good reason. We have added the Internet into our lives, and also have benefited from the invention of the remote control for our televisions. Both of which have added to our impatience in reading, and watching. We seem to want our entertainment and news in chunks, or as they call them news bites. Books take an investment of time and endurance. I read somewhere recently that reading a book is getting into the authors head, his thinking.

What is more beneficial to me, the book or the fast Internet and/or channel switching. Who knows. Not me that's for sure. I like them all a lot. I still love reading as much as I ever have, I just have to allot time in the late evening or in bed before I fall asleep to read. It takes me longer to read a book and I am surely more selective in my choices. I thank God for having a great library nearby.

Whichever you choose as your favorite delivery system of information you will be better off than you would be if you did not take advantage of any of them.

While taking my usual morning browse, I happened upon this picture from a site called: ERLEND MORK. I'm reminded of the predictament I sometimes fall into when I try to read two, three, or even four books simutaneously. I'm not sure I do myself, or the books a favor when I attempt this. The situation occurs usually when I reserve books at my local, (very good) library, and they all become available at the same time. An overdose of the moveable feast I'd say. Oh well, I am slow to take a lesson from past experiences, as far as books go, and will put myself in that situation again I'm sure. The picture has a title, it's called: The weight of a thought.