[bagster]

slattern

EXCELLENT word!

(see tagline for further information)

[Gargantua]

I learned how to read by age 4, and had only my parents' college textbooks, a set of World Book Encyclopedias (1959-era), and monthly mailings of "Anaesthesia & Analgesia" magazine to read. My grandparents collection was somewhat more forthcoming, with Kipling and Michener, Ferber and Twain and much more.

I attended grade school believing that there must be some hidden mystery of wisdom which it was mine to divine from the obvious and mundane tasks we were given. When, in the 2nd Grade, I finally realized that they actually were just teaching us to read and write, and that there was no hidden jewel of knowledge, I lost interest in the process.

But I kept reading virtually anything I could get my hands on. And that has made all the difference.

;^)