Wonderful post, Randy! It brought back similar memories for me, although my mother was and is an avid reader, and encouraged me to read books that were way, way above my "little" head.
Started us on a lifetime of on-the-page (or screen!) magical adventures. But you know what, I'm amazed the the type is getting so much smaller, year by year! Thanks for reading and commenting.
This reminded me of the old K and G Drugstore (was that the name) on Bissonnet at Mandell in Houston (right down from your house). As kids we used to walk over from Milford St. and sit at the soda fountain and have a burger. I think we had an account. There was a comic book section and you weren't allowed to just sit on the floor and read the comics "unless you plan to buy them". Interestingly as I understand it, this drug store was where Larry McMurtry hung out while he was at Rice. Perhaps we crossed paths.
Larry McMurtry! I'm sure you DID cross paths there. In fact, don't I remember his mentioning, in one of his essays, "The delightful little girl from Mandell"?
Randy, how wonderful that your love of books and language inspired you to write for us to read! And you have brought up my early and lifelong memories of loving to read, so I’m setting down to make it one of my memoir essays. Thank you!
How thrilling to think that my reading piece might have sparked one from you. When can I read yours? Hope you are doing well and staying warm. From what we hear on the news, you're getting hit pretty hard this winter. Wishing you could be here in Houston today, to join us as we bask in our warm and sunny.
I have all admiration, gratitude and sympathy for my reading teachers. Since I've always been a word-by-worder, I'm sure they must have found it rather frustrating trying to get me going a bit faster. But I seem to be making up by longevity, my lack of speed - so I hope Miss McNeill and Miss Gatewood (and others too) may be looking down and taking some satisfaction that at least managed to instill in me, through their teaching efforts, at least a determination not just to STOP! Oh, and we'd best not even tiptoe into the spelling. Thank Heavens I have Rick to do the proofing. And thank you for doing the reading and commenting. I so much appreciate it.
Lynda said: Our neighborhood grocery store had a "comics corner" where little ones could "read" while parents shopped. Mr. Pasternak or another employee casually kept watch. I was left behind once, totally happy, until my frantic mom returned, having forgotten "something."
Wonderful post, Randy! It brought back similar memories for me, although my mother was and is an avid reader, and encouraged me to read books that were way, way above my "little" head.
Started us on a lifetime of on-the-page (or screen!) magical adventures. But you know what, I'm amazed the the type is getting so much smaller, year by year! Thanks for reading and commenting.
This reminded me of the old K and G Drugstore (was that the name) on Bissonnet at Mandell in Houston (right down from your house). As kids we used to walk over from Milford St. and sit at the soda fountain and have a burger. I think we had an account. There was a comic book section and you weren't allowed to just sit on the floor and read the comics "unless you plan to buy them". Interestingly as I understand it, this drug store was where Larry McMurtry hung out while he was at Rice. Perhaps we crossed paths.
Larry McMurtry! I'm sure you DID cross paths there. In fact, don't I remember his mentioning, in one of his essays, "The delightful little girl from Mandell"?
Randy, how wonderful that your love of books and language inspired you to write for us to read! And you have brought up my early and lifelong memories of loving to read, so I’m setting down to make it one of my memoir essays. Thank you!
How thrilling to think that my reading piece might have sparked one from you. When can I read yours? Hope you are doing well and staying warm. From what we hear on the news, you're getting hit pretty hard this winter. Wishing you could be here in Houston today, to join us as we bask in our warm and sunny.
As a former teacher of young readers, I especially like hearing about these personal connections with books.
I have all admiration, gratitude and sympathy for my reading teachers. Since I've always been a word-by-worder, I'm sure they must have found it rather frustrating trying to get me going a bit faster. But I seem to be making up by longevity, my lack of speed - so I hope Miss McNeill and Miss Gatewood (and others too) may be looking down and taking some satisfaction that at least managed to instill in me, through their teaching efforts, at least a determination not just to STOP! Oh, and we'd best not even tiptoe into the spelling. Thank Heavens I have Rick to do the proofing. And thank you for doing the reading and commenting. I so much appreciate it.
Lynda said: Our neighborhood grocery store had a "comics corner" where little ones could "read" while parents shopped. Mr. Pasternak or another employee casually kept watch. I was left behind once, totally happy, until my frantic mom returned, having forgotten "something."
Woody said: What a precocious little boy.
Claire said: The only books I remember at home were the World Book Encyclopedias.