Scotty, As for my father reading to me, it seems he was always working late at the office, down in the his basement work shop making a mess I would later get the honor to clean up, or out on the golf course. However, my mother did not fail to read as often as she could in her effort to teach me everything she knew before I reached first grade (she stopped just before long division, about which she was a bit shaky, or worried about being old-fashioned). On the other hand, it is a rare night when I do not read a story or two to my younger children (this is really just selfishness on my part as it is the most enjoyable part of my whole day - though sometimes the kids clamor for Mom). The older children, having gotten this treatment a few years ago are in the process of wearing out their library cards and really don't need me to read to them anymore. Of course, on one trip back from the library, while parked as my wife ran into the grocery, I entertained everyone (and I can do voices, especially Jewish mothers, like you wouldn't believe) with my rendition of Muriel's phone call to her mother, and as a result I had to wait a few days until my kids gave me back that copy of Nine Stories (another result is that when I'm driving they tell me to keep my eyes on the road and off of the trees, oh well). all the best, Mattis