So, my dear readers, we are embarking on another spate of book discussion--"discussion" in this case, as in every column, meaning I talk and you "listen"--and enjoy it because the next time I write a column will be the end of July for a Sunday in August! I am headed to Kerrville, Tx. for the month--I love our "Italian-style farmhouse" there and there is a movie theater with 10 movies in it and a super Mexican restaurant called "Mamacitas's" and a bookstore!--and I leave Liberal and the house in Himself's capable hands--or, anyway, to do the best he can, God bless him! It isn't that he's left helpless 'cause I leave many notes on everything from when and how to turn on Air conditioning, opening the windows, watering the plants, how to fix a ham sandwich, listen to the messages on the phone, buy a new toothbrush, throw away the old, ragged undershirts--Lord knows I try!  I used to say that to my father, in exasperation over his not doing something I'd asked him to do or remember, and his answer was, "I'd be just as happy if you didn't!", which I took to be encouragement to keep trying!  Hope springs eternal!

Some things, in life, are based purely on fact, not emotion or hope or anger or manipulation and a fact of my life is having my backyard facing the golf course and watching all the little water bugs (i.e. golf carts) come whipping up to my back fence, stop, and disgorge their golfer/owners who attempt to hit a little while ball on down the fairway. Okay so far, but I've noticed that some golfers move the ball on down easily and others not so good and my question has always been, "Why don't they read about --and practice--how to hit the ball better both on the fairways, out of the sand traps and into the little hole in the ground?" 

Now, at first I figured that men don't want to be told how or what or how often to do something but obviously, some men have read a book or looked at Golf magazine or taken lessons or some darned thing 'cause they are better than their adversaries.  So, then, I saw--on our shelves--two books that might help people who are in the game of either Golf or Bowling with the former being called "Golf Fundamentals" and the other "Bowling Fundamentals"--which are pretty fundamental titles, wouldn't you say? Both subtitled "A Better Way to Learn the Basics", both softcover, and pictures to illustrate different points on stance, grip, swing,  and more major points that pertain to each sport.

In the golf book, it says "Etiquette while on the green is also important to know; never walk across a competitor's line to the hole; be aware of where each ball is so as not to step in someone's path to the hole; the grass compressed by a footprint on the green can take as long as 20 minutes to rebound and this could affect the roll of the ball to the hole." I didn't know that! But I'll bet that if I'd have stepped across the path of a ball on the green, I'd have been corrected--and rightly so, 'cause I know nothing about etiquette on the green. Interesting books, on both subjects, and I hope some golfers--men or women--who read this will come by and pick up this large softcover and maybe find help in reviewing some points to improve their game and their feeling of annoyance on why they're not doing better!  p.s. tennis balls are bigger and, in bright yellow/green, are easier to see but, of course, in order to hit the ball, you need an opponent/partner and in Golf, you can play by yourself.

The Bowling book has all the fundamentals of grip, stance, footwork, arm swing, timing and release plus drills and instruction on hitting the pocket, scoring strikes, picking up spares and generally making your scores higher and give you a sense of being in command (which, although a false sense in any sport, is nonetheless achieved in enough small  doses to hook you into coming back and playing again and again.)  They even have special instructions for left-handed players, like I am, in bowling and I'm not sure if it's in the golf book or not. Well written and easy to understand but I could wish the pictures were in color rather than black and white.

To digress just a moment into Fiction, there's a wonderful team of Douglas Preston and LIncoln Child who can capture your imagination--and your sleep--by not only their subject matter but also their manner of delivering it (as in chilling yet believable). Well, Preston has just co-authored a book with an Italian journalist, Mario Spezi, about the monster of Florence (as in Italy) and that is the title--"The Monster of Florence; A True Story".

This began by Preston and his wife buying a villa in Florence, he meets the journalist, and discovers, to his horror, that the field next to his home "had been the scene of a horrific double murder committed by one of the most infamous figures in Italian history."  Fascinated by the story, he teams with Spezi to uncover and convict the man they feel is the Monster and they, themselves, become suspects in the crimes. He describes the sights and smells of the city, its characters who live there, and he writes that, yes, the depravity of the killer was foremost 'but the case was about other kinds of evil as well--some of the top investigators, prosecutors and judges in the case appeared to be more interested in using the case to leverage their power to greater personal glory." 

A really fascinating bit of detective work and the people Preston deals with and talks to are very interesting--one learned professor says all Italians are envious--curious, I thought. Anyway, the book is truly spellbinding and worth coming in to check out.

One of the great names in sports broadcasting is Jim Nantz and his book, "Always By My Side; A Father's Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other", is really fun to read as he discusses the great, outstanding sporting events he's been "the voice" for and his struggles with his dad who contracted Alzheimer's.  "With his easygoing manner and his knack for remembering details, Dad was a master at developing relationships--he took a personal interest in everyone he met and treated everyone with a genuine respect and courtesy."  Now, that's a signpost on the road of social behavior that everyone can copy! 

He talks about Dean Smith, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, the legendary Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Peyton Manning, and Tom Dungy and many others who discuss their sports, their philosophy of winning and also losing--really a great "history book" about the great athletes in sports--and a father he loved and looked up to, who, because of his disease, couldn't enjoy it with him.

So--oooo-- this is the last column for awhile, at least of mine, although Jill, our director, and Carol, our children's librarian will be doing theirs. You could help me out by reminding Himself, if you see him around town, to wind the mantel clock and move the backyard chaise lounge every Tuesday!  It has to be moved so it doesn't leave marks in my grass!  Remember to spray your arms and legs with Cutter to discourage mosquitoes and flies, remind yourself that using the Lord's name on the golf course is not the same as in church, enjoy some strawberry shortcake and go see the new Batman movie--take care, dear gentle readers, bye!