I was watching a newsclip about Dr. Seuss the other morning. You know the author of The Cat in the Hat and other such poetic childrens books that reminded me of how I got my headstart in reading. My cousin Robert Harold and I would spend sometimes what seemed like hours reading those books. Everything from The Cat in the Hat to Green Eggs and Ham.

Was reminded of those days when we’d get dropped off for kindergarten class by Grandaddy Oglesby, getting out of his green 1947 Buick and seeing that teacher’s face as she opened the door to welcome us in. Back in those days education was paramount to our parents and the teachers took great care in making sure we got the best education possible. Yet Dr. Seuss’ books were still part of my reading diet.

As I went on to Rosewald Model School, we were very fortunate to have professors from the local college teaching our classes. Then we started reading Highlights. Not just in school but through the summer. Our vocabulary expanded — we learned comradry, discipline, and love of the Fine Arts. Dr. Seuss was still around.

I’ll never forget my first visit to hear the Louisville Orchestra play the Nutcracker Suite — it was amazing. We’d have different activities, trips to King’s Island, school bizarres, and my favorite… the end of the year operettas that we performed on stage at Kentucky State University (formerly Kentucky State College.)

My favorite operetta was Rumplestiltskin where my cousin played the part and hilariously stays in mind as the red leotard wearing character who always quoted, “My name is Rumplestiltskin and I’m a meanie!” You had to be there…

What is the point of this post? In my walk down memory lane. It made easy some gifts to explain. Perhaps that’s why my poems rhyme the way they do. From the Cat in the Hat to Rosenwald Model School. Perhaps from Dr. Seuss… Came some of my poetic pursuits. That we could write a poem or a book. From his writings the understandings we took. For you see, he really wasn’t a doctor at all. Yet he made us all feel so very, very, tall!

Thank you for your continued readership and support. Until next week…Blessings and Peace!

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