There is a photograph of me as a child. I am standing in front of a Christmas tree, and I am clutching my brand new Dr. Seuss Book. The look on my face is one of sheer joy and gratification. Boundless.
First, I want to thank my Mom & Dad. My Mom, for making all those images, and arranging them into albums, for all our little lives. My Dad, for supporting the hobby, when it was probably hard on the budget.
Secondly, at this point in my life, I am jealous of my older siblings. The quality of photographic processing was superior when they were kids. By the time I was born, Kodak had started trying “gimmicky hacks” like poor color, poor paper, and poor Polaroids. The earlier B&W processing was so much better.
But that isn’t what I am writing about, although it appears that way. I am writing about that book in my hands. About my love of Seuss. Today, March 2, is his birthday. Theodor Seuss Geisel. That guy that was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. I could go on about the details of his life. And believe me, there are quite a few things to revisit when you look at his years between 1904 and 1991.
He was a bright guy though, having attended Dartmouth College and then Oxford for his graduate. And after that, he published his first children’s book “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” in 1937. In all, he wrote more than 60 children’s books, and sold more than 600 million copies. I bet this number continues to grow, for years and years to come.
Every so often, I like to go over to http://www.seussville.com/ and walk around. Play a few games, like Fox in Socks, and What Pet Should I Get. I read a little bit and follow the characters. It all brings back wonderful memories of having those books on my lap, and turning those worn pages, to see the very next thing. Those mean old Sneeches with the stars on their bellies, and such.
But what made Dr. Seuss so wildly popular? Book after book, and stories by the bushel full. Well. If you ask me, he knew all about the magic. He comprehended the higher levels of thinking. Like Einstein, he understood that imagination was the key to the Universe. He wrote down some of these key observations. That wisdom transcended through the pages. And that is why I love Seuss.
His life events led from one thing to the next. And from his life, to ours, if we were lucky enough to know his books in the shapes of our childhoods. You see, I know plenty of Grinches, and Hortons, in the every day. And, Thing One’s and Thing Two’s, too. The Sneeches, for certain. And of course, that old Cat in the Hat.
So today I am grateful for many things. Like Theodor Seuss Geisel. His Mom & Dad. My Mom & Dad, too. And the photo of me in front of the tree, clutching the book, Happy Birthday to You! By Dr. Seuss.
Happy Birthday to You, Dr. Seuss.
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“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.”
― Dr. Seuss
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“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”
― Dr. Seuss
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“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
― Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthday to You!
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“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”
― Dr. Seuss
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