Goodbye, Ray Bradbury

And thank you for sharing your creativity with all of us.

I've read and loved a lot of Bradbury's stories, but one in particular will always stand out for me.

I first read The Halloween Tree when I was maybe 10 years old. It had been a tough year. My grandfather had passed away, then 2 weeks later my sister followed him. I remember my dad giving me this book, wanting me to read it. He said he thought I would like it.

I think he knew I needed it.

This might have been the first book I ever read where I felt a deep personal connection - a feeling that someone else somewhere had been dealt the same problems I had. A sense of camaraderie, all from the fictional characters in a book.

The theme of kids dealing with, battling with the impending death of a friend, a fellow child, was a very personal one for me.

There are many reasons why to this day books are a comfort and joy for me - this book is one of them.