A Gift to Imagine

One of my favorite comic strips is Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes. It's based on the adventures and misadventures of six-year old Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes. However, in Calvin's mind Hobbes is the real deal, and the interactions between the two of them reflect that of a young boy and his living, breathing tiger friend. Calvin's imagination is the stimulus of one of the most beloved, humorous and heart-warming comic strips of all time.

Calvin is the antithesis of what is going on in the world today. Creativity and imagination seem to have taken a leave of absence recently. Movies and television shows are constantly being remade. New magazines look a lot like those already found on the newsstands. Television commercials are, for the most part sorely lacking in appeal. Radio commercials? Even worse: Same old song, same old story, same old same old.

One of the things I love most about my grandson Krischan is his imagination I've seen him invent an entire game using only a couple of sticks, a handful of rocks and an ant bed. I've stood by his side as he saw and battled imaginary creatures so passionately I could have sworn I saw them too. I've heard him create words for things that make so much more sense to me than the actual word he should be using. The boy has such a vivid imagination I make sure to pay close attention so I don't miss out on what he does or says next. He is, in a word 'Calvin.' Coincidentally my nickname for him since the day he was born is Tiger.

I have very single book chronicling the exploits of Calvin and Hobbes. I've been saving them for Krischan so one day he can appreciate the magic Bill Watterson has created. I can't think of anyone better to pass the books along to, and hope Krischan will be eager to tear into them once he learns how to read.

After he reads this book first, of course.