Words to sleep by

While most kids his age have their noses stuck in portable video games, my 8-year-old son has had his nose stuck in books for most of this year and especially this summer.

But lately, he's wanted me to read him to sleep like I used to. I guess he's tired from doing his own reading during the day.

Well, I'm not reading him to sleep exactly like I did when he was younger. I'm reading books with far less pictures. And they're not books like "Goodnight, Moon" that will put any adult to sleep.

And I don't have to do voices quite as much these days. It may have helped him fall asleep, but it just got me more worked up supplying the voices of Tigger and Eeyore from the "Winnie the Pooh" books (I couldn't do Pooh) and the voices of Shaggy and Scooby from the "Scooby-Doo" books. I couldn't do Daphne or Velma, but, then again, who could? Besides, I like to say "Jinkies!" in a very serious, James Earl Jones type of voice.

When I was a kid, I didn't want my dad to do the voices when he read Uncle Remus stories to me. I'd tell him to "say it right," but I guess there's no way to read an Uncle Remus story and sound like a news anchor. Maybe it was the racial overtones of hearing those words out loud that led me to learn to read as a toddler and read my own self to sleep. I read so much that by the time I got to kindergarten, the teacher had me read the kids to sleep at naptime. Or, as my classmate and cousin Hank saw it, another reason to beat me up.

I haven't had to do voices with the book we're reading now, "Rascal." It's a novel about a raccoon, and it's almost as interesting as my own book of columns Saylor took a liking to for a while. And the raccoon hasn't had anything to say in the book so far. In fact, the book's boring me to tears, but Saylor likes it because I put a little extra jam on the bread as I read the story, to borrow a line from Andy Griffith.

Now, that's a person I like to hear tell a story. I mean, I could listen to the guy perform "What It Was Was Football" all day long. Of course, I'd listen to him perform the J through P section of the phone book.

And then you've got them thar Jenkinses, Maurice and that purty Luellen way over yonder at 435 Main Street. And listen these here numbers you've got to mash to get 'em...

I think next time he wants me to read him a story, I'll just pop in a recording of a Columbus Council meeting. Ever heard one of those on TV? I could be riding a bucking bull and fall asleep while listening to that.

Nah, I think I'll just savor the time I still get to sit on the end of the bed or lie next to him as I read. It's probably not gonna be much longer before I'm not even allowed in his room. And probably won't want to know what he's reading.

BLAWG WILD

For more down-home commentary, see Chris Johnson's blog at http://blawgwild.blogspot.com

Contact Chris Johnson at 706-320-4403 or cjohnson@ledger-enquirer.com