I have always had a love for reading and books in general. I have several “favorite” authors. I would have to say that my two top favorites are William W. Johnstone and J.T. Edson. These two gentlemen write westerns as a rule but Johnstone has several series in modern times. Both authors have the ability to put you, the reader, in the place of the main star of the story.
Last night I was reading a story by another famous author, a western, and since we live on what is essentially a game refuge, I thought it was appropriate when about three pages into the story I thought I heard a coyote howl. I was in bed reading before I turned the light off so I listened a little harder and, sure enough, I did hear coyote calls in the night.
Now, I don’t know if it was the full moon or if it was because of the warm night, or perhaps somehow they had been disturbed, but they surely howled.
I have been in the woods several times and heard the howls and I have thought, “Man, what an eerie sound as well as a sad and mournful sound.” I kinda sorta likened it to the sound of “Taps” played on a bugle at a military funeral.
When you are reading of a western man on his horse riding through the mountains and he is hearing the cries of wolves all around him, it puts a whole new reality to the story, hearing the howls in the night. You can almost smell the forest and hear the hoof falls of the horse and the creak of the saddle leather, or the slight jingle of the hardware of the reins and bit of the bridle. I am going to leave the story right there and let you imagine for yourself what it would be like.
You may ask, “What brought this on or what does this have to do with memories?” I have heard quite a few commercials or ads about literacy in the media of late. If a person can read and would read a book or two as often as they can, the world is at their fingertips and they can be anyone or anywhere they want to be. Yes, when you put the book away or finish reading a story, you are still right there in “The County” and you never left your chair, but you did have the chance to lose your stress or troubles even if for a little while.
You owe it to yourself to use one of the God-given abilities that every man, woman or child should have. If you can’t read, there are numerous people who would be more than willing to teach you.
Thank you to everyone who reads Remember When. Hopefully you can grab a book and sit down with a glass of iced tea and Remember When . . . just as I do.
Guy Woodworth of Presque Isle is a 1973 graduate of Presque Isle High School and a four-year Navy veteran. He and his wife Theresa have two grown sons and five grandchildren. He may be contacted at lightning117_1999@yahoo.com.
