I love Mark Twain. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", that I was required to read in middle school, aren't my most favorite books. They are certainly very good books but his short stories and satirical works are more my speed. Sadly, I think most Americans think that he only wrote two books before he went off to sit on his porch, drink bourbon and yell at passersby. (Sadly, his political and charitable works aren't widely acknowledged either.) His guide to living, & Bible commentary are worth more than a glance. In addition to his crazy hair, he regularly cusses and uses the word "ain't" in his writing - that's just fun. There are websites dedicated to him along with a whole world of quotes that can be emailed daily (my junk mailbox isn't nearly full enough).
Here are a few gems:
"Do not put off till tomorrow what can be put off till the day after tomorrow just as well." (My life's core philosophy.)
"It is better to give than receive - especially advice."
"Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as if she has laid an asteroid." (Don't we all have hens in our lives?)
"Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself. " (Apparently some things don't change.)
There is a Center for Mark Twain Studies at Elmira College, I admittedly don't know if a center whose purpose is to research Mark Twain is really necessary. However, the college has his study cottage, where he wrote portions of Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer and other numerous works, on their campus. It is about the cutest little building ever. I think that we all need a study with a comfy chair and all the things that we love inside. To truly be a relaxing environment and keep the pests out, a coded entry and retinal scan should be required for entry. (You know the "pests" that I am talking about.)
I think that I will Netflix the Ken Burn's documentary about him (or maybe buy it and donate it to our school) and have my kids read some of his works this summer. They will grumble at first but his humor will suck them in.
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