The Book is Always Better

January 19, 2014.Reading time 2 minutes.

My wife and I are voracious readers. She has introduced me to a whole world of classic English literature over the past 25 years as that was her major. So it naturally follows that our daughters love to read as well. When we go to the beach, we each pack five or six books and sit on the sand reading – not your typical beach family. One of our girls is dyslexic and we made an early assumption that reading would always be torture for her. Fortunately, we were wrong as she powered through her challenge and reads more than any of us.

So what happened last night was pure joy to me. The younger three asked me to get a specific movie from Netflix that is based on a YA book they’ve all read. I say “based on” because evidently only the title and a couple of characters are the same as the book. I sat in the room with them while they laughed at, compared, criticized, and completely trashed the movie. It was hysterical. I can’t tell you how many times they rolled their eyes at their mother or I when we said, “the book is always better.”

Now they know!

That’s the beauty of books. They create vivid imagery that a movie can rarely duplicate. I love that they are figuring that out and maybe along the way, they’ll see us old folks aren’t so out of touch.

Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world.”

I have only been able to come up with a couple of movies that I thought were better than the book: Congo and The Pelican Brief. I have opinions as to why, but was curious if anyone else had examples. I’d love to hear any.

A Pursuit of Misguided Passions

January 16, 2014.Reading time 3 minutes.

In a surprise turn of events, I’ve been compared by my eldest daughter to Neil Patrick Harris. Unfortunately, it isn’t for his good looks, charm, or wit. No, I’ve been compared for something else entirely. Her new favorite show is How I Met Your Mother. I’ve never watched it, but she tells me that I remind her of Barney because, and I quote, “You come up with dumb ideas and pursue them passionately.”

Accused of this, I asked the family for examples thinking there might be one or two that came to mind and I could dismiss the charge as teenage overdramatics. Instead, what followed at the dinner table was a litany of hair-brained schemes I’ve had over the years. While my aged mind flutters from one to the next, their young memories file and categorize every crack-pot idea I’ve ever had. I was astounded at how long the list grew and had to agree, many of them were pretty stupid.

Take for instance, my attempt to woo a cat to live with us. In my defense, I didn’t know he belonged to a neighbor. I met him on my porch one night and started feeding him…and named him…and read to him.
The running kilt and 5k run dressed up as Jonah complete with a sign saying, “Repent Ninivites!”
My attempt to prove the existence of Chupacabras (which still goes on).
Food came up often. Don’t let me around a chocolate fountain – the last time I discovered chocolate-covered Shrimp and hushpuppies (Yum!). Topping the food category were the Twinkie Dog and Spice Cream, both served at Uncle Bubba’s Hot Dog Emporium.
Llamas in the Basement – a cheap imitation of Goats on the Roof in Tiger, GA, only bigger…and subterranean.
There was the notorious failed Labor Day kitten capture of a feral cat at my office.
Goodwill Hawaiian shirts worn on a mission trip to every continent. (2 down, 3 to go)
The #PartyMark ear bud holders.
My annual attempts to lure and slap a pelican during our beach vacations.

Last but not least: 2021 – The Year of No Pants. Before you get the idea that I plan on joining a nudist camp, I plan on being pantless appropriately. There are plenty of coverings officially called: Unbifurcated Garments. Kilts, togas, dashiki, gho, sarongs, kimonos, Fustanella, tunics, Männerrock (literally translated as man-skirt) would all be used to cover whilst I remain pantsless. I’ve got it all planned for the year after my youngest daughter leaves for college. I thought that would make them worry a little less about the ramifications of coming home to find Daddy lounging happily in his unbifurcated garments. This is genius! Or as NPH says:

LEGEN- wait for it – DARY!