Phantom

One of my favorite books is the Phantom Tollbooth. I long ago lost count of the number of times I read it as a child, and when my children first became old enough to read it, I read it again. It has been many years since I last picked it up, but I did so today.

For those of you who are not familiar with the book, there is a lot of wisdom within the puns and jokes. It is worth re-reading it as an adult to pick up on what you missed as a child.

It was lying on the kitchen table and I noticed that this edition had an introduction written by Maurice Sendak. This isn't the place to discuss his praises as well. He begins his introduction by quoting a classic passage from the Phantom Tollbooth. It is one in which the lesson is so simple, yet so profound.

"I guess I just wasn't thinking," said Milo.

"PRECISELY," shouted the dog as his alarm went off again, "now you know what you must do."

"I'm afraid I don't," admitted Milo, feeling quite stupid.

"Well," continued the watchdog impatiently, "since you got here by not thinking, it seems reasonable to expect that in order to get out, you must start thinking." And with that he hopped into the car.