THE ZWERGLIPATCH DIARIES - VOLUME 27 JUNE 21 TO AUGUST 7, 2015Many, many, many Summers, in my past, and present, my fa- vorite Summer Read was, and is, Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. The edition I have of these books is copyrighted 1949 with illustrations by Leonard Weis- gard. This particular book is one of many I have lugged with me during my many decades. Not only do I adore Carroll's words and characters, the Weisgard illustrations are colorful, perky pick-me- ups when I, like Alice, am tired and hot and appreciate pictures. But, unlike Alice, I do like words. It fascinates me to turn a page. When a book is illustrated, especially in color, I adore the surprise. I contemplate the illustrator's choices.Today, as you will find out, I finished rereading for the fifth or sixth - or more - reads of Heidi by Johanna Spyri. Heidi may not be Alice, but, both young Women have heads on their shoulders. One can learn from the young.This Summer, again, as you will see, René and I took our nephew Timothy to Walt Disney World. Being in the presence of a Youth who was able to advise and listen and enjoy new surround- ings made years melt from these two Uncles' skeptic demeanors - even though our honest skepticism taught this Youth a lesson or two or three.I understand how the young learn from us elders. I understand how elders created both characters of Alice and Heidi. I understand how each person of any age is able to never cease learning - espe- cially, from books.5I may have trimmed the number of volumes in our Zwergli- patch Library during the past few years. I have not trimmed the es- sence of knowledge. In fact, there is an unending stack of books to read which, for me, is a delight to know. I look forward to a new book whose pages lie unread. I look forward to a used book whose pages were turned by an unknown person - perhaps, now a wraith.I have no idea who handed down the volume I have of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking- Glass to my family. Whoever it was: Thank You!This year, for the first time, I see how Leonard Weisgard's illus- trations could easily be framed and go with many of JWGrum's se- lected artworks. Have I looked so much at these Weisgard prints that my taste, today, was partially formed by staring at these illustra- tions when I was young? Is this the proof I need to know a child's likes will not alter? Has this child, JWG, changed during the past decades? Has my imagination been sculpted by Lewis Carroll and Walt Disney - never mind Aesop and the Brothers Grimm? Have the pages I read bolstered my will to Hope? To Believe? To Crave?Yes, I crave to read - new and old - good and bad - facts and fiction. I could honestly say my favorite exercise is to turn a page - many pages.I would, honestly, feel lost, if I didn't have my books. I should honestly state that I have learned, and follow, one of Life's best rules: I know enough to turn the page.
