January 2019 Book of the Month
Happy New Year all you lovely grandmothers! I’m over here in my cozy little office, hoping that your Christmas was great! The hustle and bustle, the jingle and jangle is over for another year, and we have had our fill of superlative, sugary snacks.
I was at the Dr.’s office yesterday and I was talking with my favorite nurse in all the world. I asked her about her Christmas and then asked if all the children were sufficiently disappointed. She laughed out loud! She said, “That is exactly what it is!” Our experience along this line, had to do with our wonderful teenage grandson, Logan. His mother and I had diligently ordered from online, everything he wanted (within our budgetary restrictions), and it was all wrong! Poor kid! Everything was too small or too big. On one item, we made a little mistake on our address and it was returned to the company and the order was cancelled. Ugh! When we realized it and reordered, they were out of the color he wanted. That was fun! Said nobody! Ever! It’s a good thing he is such a good sport. And, he spent a good day after Christmas buying what he wanted. Love that boy!
When I think of a new year, I think of a clean slate. I don’t know about you, but I seem to look at everything a little differently, and wonder how I can make this coming year better. I have a wonderful friend I met many years ago, while working in our little elementary school and she has made sure (bless her) that we have stayed in touch. She is like a daughter to me, and I always enjoy my time with her. She is, by the way, a fabulous grandmother, and I have asked her to contribute some of her ideas to our sweet website. If you are reading this Robyn, I am referring to you! Anyway, I digress. Robyn told me over lunch, of her goal for the year to live in the moment and to make the best of it, especially regarding relationships with family, friends and others she meets along the way. It reminded me of a little plate I have displayed in my kitchen. It reads, “Today I will live in the moment…unless it is unpleasant, in which case, I will eat a cookie.” (Chuckle)! Robyn’s sweet goal also reminded me of a little book I love and recommended to her, called The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth. This is based on a story by Leo Tolstoy and Jon has rewritten it to approach a younger audience.
The hustle and bustle, the jingle and jangle is over for another year, and we have had our fill of superlative, sugary snacks. I was at the Dr.’s office yesterday and I was talking with my favorite nurse in all the world. I asked her about her Christmas and then asked if all the children were sufficiently disappointed. She laughed out loud! She said that is exactly what it is! Our experience along this line, had to do with our wonderful teen aged grandson, Logan. His mother and I had diligently ordered from online, everything he wanted (within our budgetary restrictions,) and it was all wrong! Poor kid! Everything was too small or too big. On one item, we made a little mistake on our address, and it was returned to the company and the order was cancelled. When we realized it, and reordered, they were out of the color he wanted. That was fun! Said nobody! Ever!
It’s a good thing he is such a good sport. And, he spent a good day after Christmas buying what he wanted. Love that boy!
”When I think of a new year, I think of a clean slate. I don’t know about you, but I seem to look at everything a little differently, and wonder how I can make this coming year better. I have a wonderful friend I met many years ago, while working in our little elementary school, and she has made sure (bless her) that we have stayed in touch. She is like a daughter to me, and I always enjoy my time with her. She is, by the way, a fabulous grandmother, and I have asked her to contribute some of her ideas to our sweet little blog. If you are reading this Robyn, I am referring to you! Anyway, I digress. Robyn told me over lunch, of her goal for the year to live in the moment and to make the best of it, especially regarding relationships with family, friends and others she meets along the way. It reminded me of a little plate I have displayed in my kitchen. It reads: “Today I will live in the moment…unless it is unpleasant, in which case, I will eat a cookie.” (Chuckle.) Robyn’s sweet goal also reminded me of a little book I love and recommended to her, called “The Three Questions,” by Jon J. Muth. This is based on a story by Leo Tolstoy, and Jon has rewritten it to approach a younger audience.
The protagonist is a boy by the name of Nikolai. He has three friends, Sonya the heron, Gogol the monkey, and Pushkin the dog. Nikolai has a desire to improve (like we do at the first of every year), and these are his questions: “When” is the best time to do things? “Who” is the most important one? And “What” is the right thing to do? His friends give him good advise, based on their understandings and experiences in life, but Nikolai thinks they just don’t seem right for him. Then, he remembers Leo the turtle, who lives high in the mountains, is very wise, and has lived a very long time. He decides to go to him, and climbs up the mountain, and finds Leo digging a garden. Because of his age, it is very hard for him. Nikolai asks him his three questions: When, Who and What. Leo listened, but only smiled and went on digging. Nikolai finally says, “Let me help you,” and Leo gives him the shovel and thanks him. But, as Nikolai finishes, the wind comes up and it begins to rain. He and Leo begin to move toward Leo’s cottage for shelter, but Nikolai hears a cry for help! He runs down the path where he finds a panda whose leg is injured by a fallen tree branch. Nikolai carries her to Leo’s house makes a splint for her leg, and puts her to bed. The storm is still raging when the panda wakes up, and she asks, “Where am I? And where is my child?” (Heart stopping, question, right?) Well, Nikolai races out of the cottage and down the path. The storm is terrible, but he keeps going on into the forest, and finally finds the panda’s child, so cold and alone on the ground. He carries her to the cottage, warms and dries her, and gives her to her mother. Leo is very pleased.
The next morning is warm, and Sonya, Gogol and Pushkin arrive to check on everyone. Nikolai feels peace as he counts his blessings. He has wonderful friends, and he saved the panda and her child. However, he also feels disappointed because he has not found the answers to his three questions. He asks Leo one more time, and Leo tells him that his questions have been answered. Nikolai is surprised, but Leo tells him that if he had not helped him to dig his garden, he would not have heard the panda’s cry for help. So the most important “time” was the time he spent digging. The most important “one” was he, Leo, and the most important thing to “do” was to help him. He then goes on saying that when Nikolai found the injured panda, (and I am going to quote right out of the book,) “The most important “time” was the time he spent mending her leg and saving her child. The most important “ones” were the panda and her baby. And the most important thing to “do” was to take care of them and make them safe.” Then Leo tells Nikolai: “Remember then that there is only one important “time,” and that time is now. The most important “one” is always the one you are with. And the most important thing to “do” is good for the one who is standing at your side. For these, my dear boy, are the answers to what is most important in this world. This is why we are here.”
Don’t you love that? Thank you, Jon Muth, for putting this in a format that we and our grandchildren can share and understand. Grab a copy if you can. It is, in my opinion, a real keeper, and one for your “grannie” bookshelf, to be read, of course, every New Year’s Day! Or… New Year’s Eve,…. Or anytime afterwards, and for any occasion.
Enjoy your new year, my dears. I’m over here praying it will be good for us all, and that we can make it good for all those around us. Toodle-ooo for now.
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