Pay it Forward

Last night Jerry and I watched a movie "Pay it Forward". The main thought was a teacher giving an assignment to his class about changing the world. A young boy decided to start "Pay it Forward" meaning if you do a good thing for someone and they ask you how they can thank you enough, you just tell them, Do something good for three people, which they all do through the movie. His idea worked so well, it went all the way to California.

In life, we all have these people who do things for us and little do we realize the impact they have made on us.

My daughter, Erin McGill Beard, is an excellent writer, photographer, lover of animals. She believes in giving her gifts to the world.

She wrote a column the other day on her blog about author Pat Conroy.
She wrote how her love of books changed her life. Which is exactly what this new book of Pat Conroy's is about.

Got me to thinking:
First memory of really enjoying a good story was in third grade, could not wait for my teacher to read the next chapter of whatever book she chose to read that week. Her voice, her manner. Captiviated me.

My Dad and sister always took my brother and I to the Wyandotte Library. The Old Wyandotte library. With all of its history and grandness. We were deposited in the childrens library while they went on their way. I way on my way to a great change in my life.

The first book I read that challenged me to explore further was The Diary of Anne Frank. Her life during World War II in an attic with other Jewish families, stirred something in me. I read everything I could about the Holocaust and was deeply moved by the evil in the world. How can man be so cruel to man?

Next, Gone With The Wind, was the book that also changed my life. I found everything there was to read about the Civil War. Stephen Ambrose, Ashley Foote, devoured them all. Margaret Mitchell, through her story, told of the horror of the Civil War, but she also chose a heroine who became important to me. Scarlett O'hara. The romance of the era, the cause, the dreams. I stepped back in time. My daughter will often say how when she was at Getteysburg, she remarked, "My mom could do this tour" We went there one summer and it was a wonderful memory for me. I knew all my favorite generals and she patiently helped me find their monuments. For being from the North somehow I fell in love with Gen. Lee and Longstreet and Pickett. From the North, it was Chamberlain. All wonderful generals, with different ideals and dreams. All thinking they were right. Scarlett O'hara, fought for herself and her family. And although my whole life I wished I was more like the soft, gentle Melanie, I have found myself to be more like Scarlett. With that strong will to survive. My nephew Brian, also is a deep lover of the Civil War and its stories. I wonder if he has ever read Gone With The Wind?

When my daughter was three, off we would go, her on the back of my bike. With lunch packed and put in the basket, we would ride to the Wyandotte Library. Pick out books and go to Bishop Park and we would read. What fun and what a way to pay it forward. My Dad and Sister, My daughter and I. She loves to read. Has always loved to read and writes about the books so beautifully. I like to think I may have had something to do with that.

Books can take you anywhere. The only time I am completely relaxed is when I am reading a good book. I am in the moment. I am in whatever state I am reading about, I never got to travel much, but through books, I have seen and learned much.
Biographies, I love them. Mystery, I try to solve them. Love Alex Cross. Just read the James Patterson book about Alex Cross's roots and about his grandfather during the bad slave times and what went on.

The Help, wonderful book. Opens your eyes.

Sometimes, I wish I had the talent of so many wonderful writers, including Erin. There is so much I need to say. But I am quiet, do not like attention. That is why I am writing this blog. My daughter encouraged me. I love it. I have always kept journals. When I am gone, my children will find them all over the place.

Summation: Pay it forward. It may change someones life forever.