As adults we often experience the holiday seasons with a detachment that stems from our having been there and done that so many times before, allowing us to save our excitement for the kids. This year my children made out like bandits, so we had plenty of occasion to get excited for them. But, as with many families, we focused far less on gift giving between adults and more so on them. Normally when this happens you wind up with token gifts, like a pair of mittens or underwear. Not so this year!

This year I was given a book written by my all time favorite author and mental juggernaut, Hunter S. Thompson. I have read several of his books already including The Proud Highway, Better Than Sex, and Hell’s Angels.This time around I will be reading Generation of Swine. My wife truly does know me. I’d much rather be reading the works of a mind I adore whilst sporting holy underwear (that’s with holes, not divine) than to have new clothes and nothing good to read.

I wasn’t the only one who received the gift of knowledge this year though, my daughter got books for Christmas too! She got a large book that teaches her to read and write her ABC’s, a collection of tiny books about My Little Pony, and finally another of my all time favorite books, Shel Silverstein’s Where The Sidewalk Ends. She loves to listen to us read his poems, though usually only a couple at a time.

I haven’t begun to read my book yet, but the day is coming soon. Actually, I haven’ t been doing enough reading lately in general. I really need to get some more titles under my belt. I’ve been considering the idea of creating a list of every book I have ever read, a catalog of the knowledge I have consumed if you will. If I do create such a list, I will certainly make it available here. Maybe this will promulgate some discussion, after all what good is a book if you can’t share it and discuss it with someone?

Aloha!

JMK