Long shadows

I love the long shadows on November; those far-reaching limbs of trees seem to stretch out across the earth, connecting summer to winter with their long arms of hope.

As I watched the sun begin its journey this morning, I thought about the November shadows starting to form. Lights went on, for the rooms will still dark. tea whistled and the news of the day crept into my day.

As I trolled the ether waters, Garrison Keillor’s Almanac popped up. I enjoy reading the selected poem of the day; sometimes familiar verse, other times poets I have not met. On occasion, Almanac inspires a post, leading me to new waters. It isn’t always the daily poem that spurs me on, however, it is sometimes the list of birthdays; poets, essayist, literary giants.

Today, November 29, there were three notable birthdays. Authors who filled my childhood as much as ongoing years. As I read the brief biographies, my heart swelled and I thought of November’s long shadows, wondering at the lives of these notables and the shadows they cast on so many lives.

November 29 is day of birth for Louisa May Alcott, Madeline L’Engle, and C.S. Lewis.

Where would I be without “Little Women”, “A Wrinkle in Time” and “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”?

Where would we be, dear readers, without November’s long shadows?

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Lord Peter Wimsey and Father Brown

On a quiet, northwesterly corner of Wheaton College, in an appealing cottage-like setting, sits the The Marion E. Wade Center. Though sedate in its demeanor, the center speaks loudly in its volumes of literature and holdings of seven notable English authors and theologians. You know their names or their works. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien are the most popularly recognizable literaries whose books and papers rest at the center. It is here that visitors come from far and wide to open the doors of the large, wooden cabinet that inspired the wardrobe in the classic, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Nearby the wardrobe sits the desks of both Tolkien and Lewis. Walls display artwork and maps and memorabilia, as well as displays of their books, as well as the five other English authors whose works are contained in this little gem of literary greatness.

While our friends Jeri and Kyle from Oklahoma were visiting this week, we drove out to the Wade Center and had a lovely time reading and learning about the noted authors, though we did get a bit “chatty” in the reading room, necessitating a stern reprimand from the librarian. (I promise, we’ll be quiet next time.)

Although I’ve been to the Wade Center a few times, it still leaves me in awe; all-the-more-so when I see family and friends enjoy the exhibits and learn something new. On Thursday, we were awakened to Dorothy L. Sayers, who was friends with the other notables in scholarly residence at the Wade. The connection to the Lord Peter Wimsey series she penned and Sayer’s fascination with Dante, learning old Italian in order to translate his works, has left me eager to read some of her books. Jeri uploaded Dante’s works for Kyle on her Kindle that afternoon.   Now, I need to locate my G.K. Chesterton book of short stores and see what Father Brown is up to very soon.

If you are ever in the western suburbs of Chicago, I urge you to visit the Marion E. Wade Center.

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Fairy tales

“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”

C. S. Lewis

“Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you, if you are young at heart.”

So sings the song by Carolyn Leigh and Johnny Richards. This little dear has

been reading in my garden for

some time now. I love her fairy wings and little feet and that she was given to

me by a very dear friend.

What’s your favorite fairy tale?

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