A Love Letter to Dr. Seuss

Dude,

More than anyone not named Miles, I owe you for what I do today.

I started reading your books when I was two or three and haven’t stopped. The first book my son and I read together? Yours, too.

When I can’t write a word that’s made just right, I make up my own that fits in quite tight.

Your words kick around my head like drumbeats, and I write to your rhythms to this day.

My son can come into my office and see me typing one-handed while counting out measures with the other.

This is your fault, bub.

You began your career getting rejected by pert near every publisher under the sun. In that, you taught me persistence.

Your words speak of grace, kindness, and heart. In those words, you taught me what to teach me son.

Your rhythms help make my house payments. In that, you taught me, umm, how to use words to make house payments.

The National Education Association is using your birthday, March 2nd, to kick off Read Across America:

It’s NEA’s Read Across America week and more than 45 million readers across the nation are preparing to join the nation’s largest reading celebration.. From book balls to pajama read-ins to week-long read-ins, the celebrations will mark the thirteenth year for NEA’s signature literacy event. Looking for news and ideas? Check out the Read Across America Facebook fan page and pledge site where events large and small are being posted.

Thanks, Doc. You changed my life. Since I met you, I’ve never met a book I didn’t want to read, and I grew up to be in the serious business of adventures.

Your friend since Age 3,

Little Timmy Miles

And now, for you … lovely reader … these parting words:

So…

be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,

you’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So…get on your way!