Sunday, June 19, 2011

Turning down the role of Batholomew Cubbins

Although I grew up in a house filled with books, I didn't have many children's books of my own.  There were the usual Little Golden Books -- I remember "Mr. Dog" was a favorite -- and I had another titled "The Magic Key" plus the original "Gerald McBoing Boing" by Dr. Seuss.

Most of my early reading material, therefore, came from the library at my K-5 school, Ridge School, in Arlington Heights, Illinois.  And one of my favorites was "The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins,"  another classic Dr. Seuss.  Bartholomew's problem was that each time he removed a hat, another, more lavish, appeared on his head in its place, until finally he had pulled off 500 of them and only his own plain little cap was left.

My problem is that I tend to take off one hat and immediately put on another.  Bartholomew had no choice; the hats just appeared there on his head.  I have a choice.  And I need to choose to stop wearing so many hats.

After lurking at a number of the reader/review websites -- some mentioned previously -- I considered doing a few reviews here, just to break the monotony of talking about myself.  The good goddess knows I have enough books in my own collection, and it's easy enough to pick up more either through inexpensive/free downloads via the Kindle or paper copies at yard sales and thrift stores and the free exchange at the coffee shop.

But "reviewer" is a hat I'm not currently wearing, and I already have enough.

The only role I need right now is that of writer.  Although I should have got more accomplished this quiet week-end than I did, I managed to complete today's required 1,000 words, and it's only 2:00 in the afternoon. 

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