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...nothing here is promised, not one day... Lin-Manuel Miranda


HAPPY BIRTHDAY URSULA K LE GUIN
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thrilled

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Go back, please to my first month of blogging, in the dim ages of 2005. January, it was and see where I posted about Saint Ursula. (http://www.journalscape.com/Hedgehog/2005-01-26-16:53 and http://www.journalscape.com/Hedgehog/2005-01-27-16:45)

I still feel the same way. I still cherish "word-seeking missiles" and use the phrase where I can to describe myself. I still shake my head in amazement at her talent, her use of language, her ability to dig so far down without trappings.

I still adore her line "Nobody who says 'I told you so' has ever been, or will ever be, a hero."

Later this week, I'll talk more about her books. I've been rereading early Le Guin this week, and loving every moment I spent.

But this year, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the publishing of THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS.

And today, October 21, 2009 is Ursula Le Guin's 80th birthday.

The other day, my friend and masseuse Jean asked me a great question. If I were to create holidays that honored and celebrated my values and celebrated what was important to me, what would those holidays be?

I said that one would somehow "celebrate diversity". It's a wholly overused work, diversity, but I wanted a day to truly honor and celebrate difference because it's so very cool. From culture to food, from different lands, to different ways, music, dance, art, different ways of walking and carrying things, big and little, to celebrate difference, I said. And a holiday to honor books. Maybe to honor libraries - how fabulous are public libraries for one thing? - and librarians, readers and writers. A day for everyone to read a book to a kid, or share a paragraph with a best friend, to be happy that books exist.

Maybe that could be Saint Le Guin Day (see back to that blog in January, 2005). Or maybe she deserves a day all her own. October 21 - National Ursula K. Le Guin Day.

Honor it how you choose. Read, or reread THE LATHE OF HEAVEN. THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS. Any of those titles I mention, or a new one I didn't mention. Quote her frequently - with a smile, a wry grin. Celebrate her birthday and the anniversary of one of her most amazing books.

But celebrate.


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