The last few weeks have been a time of reflection for me, particularly as members of my dear family head back to the classroom, either to teach or be taught. It's hard to let go of another summer.

David wth his favorite childhood librarian, Alice Heckel.

I was back in my hometown of Prescott, Wisconsin for a book signing at the Freedom Park Learning Center, and got a chance to see some old friends (Hey guys!). Alice Heckel was there. She was one of my favorite librarians when I was a kid, humoring and encouraging my interests, and seeing her brought back a flood of memories. I was a voracious reader of history books (as well as scary stories) and lived part of my childhood in the town's old library. I can still smell the books. When people ask me about my childhood influences, teachers and librarians are right up there next to my loving parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

David as George Catlin.

 

The past is always with us, even if it isn't our own past. I recently made costumed appearances as both the artist George Catlin and the early Minnesota pioneer William Le Duc. I have personally never journeyed up the treacherous Missouri River on steamboat, outrun prairie fires or painted hundreds of American Indian warriors, nor have I worked as a frontier lawyer, served as a quartermaster during the Civil War or traveled with a live buffalo to New York City for the World's Fair . . . but I sure like pretending I have. It all comes back to those books I read as a kid, and the love of a good story. It's all the same in my head.

Back to the easel!

Note - For those interested, here is a link to an article about my Catlin appearance:
http://www.mankatofreepress.com/features/local_story_226012901.html?keyword=secondarystory

 

 

 

 

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