Friday extra

One of my favorite books to read to my son

I can't read it without crying. Even though it's a children's book, I think it's one of the most profound pieces of work ever written. If this book doesn't make you examine your relationships in life, you probably need to read it again.

I'll leave out the Sol-ution for someone later.

Steve

Re: One of my favorite books to read to my son

Yes....The book does have a dear message in life. I just called my mother to let her know if I never recieve another materialist item from her, that's okay. Just being able to visit with her and unconditional accepting me and me her love is all that I ever need/want from her.

Re: One of my favorite books to read to my son

You have to give us the answer. I think we all need to see this. When I offhandedly picked it up one day I didn't cry but I did get angry. So much for the moral of the story. In fact every time I plant a tree I mentally flip the bird at that fictional kid. The author was a Playboy favorite incidentally.

Re: Playboy favorite

Interesting Gary, I did not know. Maybe Shel had to eat, got the munchies and needed money to eat, : ' >. Learn something new, thanks.....Dale

Re: One of my favorite books to read to my son

I don't remember reading that story in Playboy and the only reason I ever looked at Playboy was to read the articles. They were usually outstanding.

Re: Yea, I read the articles too...

I like the articles in the center of the magazine, : ' >

Re: One of my favorite books to read to my son

I can't wait until someone posts the "moral" of this story. Everyone you read has a different slant on what that is. As a matter of fact, everytime I read it, I seem to gain a slightly different insight. The author, when asked only said, " . . . its just a relationship between two people; one gives, the other takes".

Re: Friday extra

1. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

2. The author left the interpretation up to the reader, at least that is my source.

After I gave a tree presentation to a grade school class that was VERY knowledgeable about trees I was praising the teacher over the student�s awareness of trees. She suggested I read the book in question, she also gave me a copy of �See You At The Top, by Zig Ziggerman(?), attempted to read but�too heavy for me, : � > .

I always took the moral of the book as being: taking and giving, as in man took from the trees. But, I read a review the other week where one individual took the meaning was a child and his mother, the tree. The reviewer�s thoughts were: to every mother comes a time when she wants her children to come home to see her and only to visit without an open hand, as in wanting something.

I was hoping others would give their interpretation of what they took the moral of the story was.

Thanks for playing,

Dale

Sorry, I didn't want to ruin it

but here's my interpretation:

Boy is you and innocent, and appreciates the tree (metaphor for another person, but I never connected it with a mother/fatehr figure) for what it is without wanting anything more than what the tree is. As the boy gets older, he loses his innocence, and becomes "greedy" with the tree- he wants something from the tree that the tree can not give him without sacrifice. In the end the boy sees the error of his ways, and "apologizes" as a man for his abuse of the friendship. As the tree is a real friend, it accepts the man's love unconditionally, sacrificing itself as it must for the boys happiness.

In retrospect, I wouldn't argue that the tree is a metaphor for parenthood, as I know I do a lot of things that I wouldn't if I didn't have kids (ever watch SpongeBob?)

I reiterate my original comments. If you haven't read it and gotten choked up, read it again until you get the message.

Powerful book for any new parent to digest.

Steve

Giving tree to 4 wonderful children who thing I'm worth more standing than flatsawn into flooring...

Re: No apology needed

Steve,

I appreciate your views, that�s what I was hoping to bring out.

Your thoughts echoed this way today. As many of my nieces and nephews are getting married and have started to have families of their own, I was thinking that The Giving Tree would make a useful gift.

I looked on ebay today and the listings are full of the book. I need to sell MORE flag cases, greed, : ' > and get my PayPal account green again, as I don't like to mess with snail mail.

Once again thanks for your input...Dale