Thank you Ray Bradbury...

If ever there was a Master of writing (during my life thus far), Ray Bradbury would win the award. June 5th, will mark a year of his passing, and though I am saddened new words and stories will not come from his pen, I am delighted by the multitude of pure treasures he left for I, You, and coming generations to discover.

Recently, I picked up Bradbury's Zen in the Art of Writing, and I find it fitting to discuss his inspiring words here. Any writer needs encouragement from time to time. If you write, you know it is a lonely business. A lonely business filled with the chatter of many characters, each urging you to tell their story. As a writer, we sometimes feel as though there is a need to create something new, something never told, but the genius behind Bradbury's work is how effortlessly he knew the observations of daily human life and experience was what readers wanted to hear. Whether on Mars, the future world of Earth, or the long ago days of Waukegan, Illinois--Bradbury achieved the ability to make readers comprehend human longing, desire, fear, and wonder.

Within the books essays to writers, I found it fitting Bradbury urges those trying to perfect their skills of the pen to remember youth. Remember the days of fascination and don't let anyone tell you are wrong in what you love. His essay, "On the Shoulder of Giants," reiterates this concept by speaking of how youth, the child, will continually be pushing the boundaries of literature.

"For the first time in history of art and teaching, the children have become the teachers." (p.98)

The young will be pushing the adult to discover new concepts, and through their rebellion, the adults mind will be saved and shown new light. Bradbury was discussing how recently teachers and librarians
finally accepted the genre of fantasy and science fiction to have substance. But I would argue, his concept works for all genres of literature. And I say thank you to Bradbury for always remembering the boy within. I thank him for always writing as a human being versus a scholar above others. Bradbury's mastery of writing still makes me think I need to try Dandelion Wine, and it makes me look at the merry-go-round in new light anytime I'm near a carnival. But it also makes me want to tell my stories of early morning canoe rides through the Logan marshes, moments of laughter on roof tops in a foreign country sipping Dandelion Mead, and most importantly the moments with family and the spontaneous laughter that comes from small memories spoken. Bradbury--I thank you and I shall always remember your words:

"Let us remain chidlike and not childish in our 20-20 vision, borrowing such telescopes, rockets, or magic carpets as may be needed to hurry us along to miracles of physics as well as dream." (p.106)

Bradbury, Ray. 1992: Zen in the Art of Writing: Batnam Edition: New York.

Wickedness with the master Ray Bradbury

I usually have one of four reading experiences:

1. I pick up a book and quickly plow through to pass the time.
2. I pick up a book, read a few chapters, put it down then pick it up again just because I am obsessive about knowing what happens in a story--whether I like it or not.
3. I pick up a book, become so absorbed that I read until I'm done not even stopping to eat.
4. I pick up a book and become so mesmerized by the story and magnificent writing that I begin to read it aloud. I put down the book not because I am borrowed or tired, but because I want to savor every last word written and I don't want the book to end.

Its a treasure when experience 4 appears in my life. And with Ray Bradbury, I found myself hypnotized by his words yet again as I tasted fall dance on the air.

This October I needed a little scare. When I was young I  had my first ever slumber party, complete with scary movies, include the film "Something Wicked This Way Comes." I figured why not give the book a try and see if the words could spark like lightning this Halloween season. And let me just say, Bradbury's words didn't disappoint. They danced and glowed around me as I watched the leaves change and fall in front of me. Early into the book, sitting outside at my frequented coffee shop, I began to read the book aloud (not caring who listened near me) for this book is one that cries to be heard.

The sound quality alone would have been enough for me to enjoy this read, but of course Bradbury doesn't stop there. For truly this book is a coming of age story, but not merely of the child, but the adult. It is a story of father and son, son and father. It is a story about change, that change that can't be stopped or pushed to arrive early. It is a story about life and our yearning to not merely ride the merry-go-round in circles, but gallop, jump, and dance across all of life's adventures. And it is a story written in cunning prose that will make your heart quicken. Its fitting that Bradbury dedicated this work to none other than Gene Kelly.

Bradbury's descriptions are profound. My favorite illusion in this book is when he describes the library, "This was a factory of spices from far countries." (p.13) And that is truly what each of Bradbury's books are, a unique spice/flavor that transports you to forgotten times or awakens you to the taste at hand.

A Taste of "Dandelion Wine"

I am a firm believer that books call to a person. They sit on the shelf waiting the time to beckon their information to a reader, give a guiding hand, or clear the fog around a few of life's mysteries. Our only job as readers is to listen and keep an open mind. It doesn't matter if the book is new or one already read; for the stages in every persons life allot for discovery and re-discovery.

Reading Ray Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine" came at a time that synced with all that was going on in my life and all the changes I didn't know how to handle. As my mother says, "this is a book that should be read every ten years." Different from Bradbury's science fiction style, the novel is a coming of age story, not just for youth, but for every age of life: youth, teen, adult, elderly. It encompasses life's change at every age in every dimension, desire, and trepidation. It depicts those defining moments.

This year I began volunteering with a hospice and family care company. I found myself conducting and piecing together the oral history of a fabulous woman who just turned 99. A five month adventure of listening to a strangers life opened my eyes and gave me insights into my own life and the inability to stop age.

As spring jumped to life so did "Dandelion Wine" spring into my outstretched hand. When not reading, I took the book with me everywhere I went in my purse: Go to pay for a coffee and there it was, reach for my phone to talk to a friend, and my fingers fumbled across the curve and spine of "Dandelion Wine." I read it slowly and absorbed every chapter with each word pouring from my silently spoken lips.

Reading this novel, I kept a pen in hand and found myself underlying passages left and right. Each passage opened new thoughts to the oral history I was working on, as well as my new found age phobia. I recognized my luck and the importance of what I was doing. The more the chapters passed by the more I felt this was Bradbury's "Peter Pan." Only the ticking crocodile of time wasn't just chasing Hook, but all the lost boys in turn, ready to eat each whole without thought or concern.

As Doug says in the book, "The magic was always in the new pair..."(p.20). Doug was referring to summer sneakers, but the realty is that life is magical with each new step a person takes. It's not just our first steps that should be recorded, it's our fifth, our sixteenth, our twenty-first, our thirtieth, and our ninety-ninth that need to be preserved so when the time comes it's possible to uncork them and take just a small sip to remember and then move forward. It is our self discovery at every age that is important, because as Grandpa states, "It was over before it began..." (p.237). In short, enjoy it or life will pass you by.

And so I take the words of "Dandelion Wine" to my memory box, bottled away to ponder, and maybe in another few years I will uncork this master piece again and taste a sip of "Dandelion Wine" with my next stage of life.

Bradbury, Ray. "Dandelion Wine," The Grand Master Editons, Bantam Books. New York: 1976