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HOLIDAYS: A TIME FOR SHARING BOOKS & READING© Roxianne Moore
Vow to Share Your Love of Books and Writing in 1999
No matter what your religion or background, this time of year means celebrations and sharing. Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice. These are just a few of the holidays celebrated during this winter season. Now, I'm not just making empty wishes for a happy new year, or joyous holidays. I've decided that in the coming year, I will make a difference in the lives of at least twelve people. One a month for the entire year. The reason for this vow is that I recently talked to a very troubled and misguided teen. In the course of several conversations, I learned that his family has only three or four books. One of these is the bible, another a dictionary. He wasn't even sure what others they might have. "How can you not read?" I asked him. "Why do I need to read? No one in my family reads, not even magazines," he replied. They don't even get the newspaper. Now, before you go feeling sorry for this family, you should know they have enough money to pay for expensive sports equipment, club memberships, and three vehicles. They just don't place a very high premium on learning. They don't own a computer, don't even see the point in having one. I currently have three, one for each member of the family, though I will be giving one to my niece and nephew next week. As for books, I'd estimate my personal library at about a thousand books. I've bought books for everyone on my Christmas list, from my six-year old son who's just learning to read, to my husband whose interest in all things medieval is what brought us together. So here's my vow for next year: I will share my love of books and learning with at least one person each month. I'd originally thought I should concentrate on young people, but maybe adults need the help. After all, who is going to ensure that the next generation is literate? One of the ways I'll share my love of learning is through programs in the schools. I plan to volunteer time at my son's school, teaching writing and sharing my ideas on research. This means, of course, that I'll actually share with more than one person in a month. Maybe I should say I want to create twelve opportunities to share during the next year. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article HOLIDAYS: A TIME FOR SHARING BOOKS & READING in Resources for Writers is owned by Deb Jones. Permission to republish HOLIDAYS: A TIME FOR SHARING BOOKS & READING in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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