Weekly Wave: Bibliophiles seek sanctuary anywhere, even in the tub

DULUTH Bibliophiles like myself celebrate more book-related days and months each year than Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” has pages.

For example, Tuesday, April 23, was World Book Day. (But isn’t every day World Book Day?)

National Science Fiction Day arrived early in the year Jan. 2. February was Library Lovers Month.

And, in case you missed it, Feb. 9 was Read in the Bathtub Day. I did not partake. For one, I prefer showers. Plus, reading is more of a dryland activity to me. It would be too easy for me to drop Stephen King’s opus “The Stand” into the drink. Plus, I’d harbor fears of Pennywise calling to me through the drainpipe while I read “It.”

Despite the many days celebrating the joys and benefits of reading, readers with insatiable appetites really don’t need any excuses to crack open a book, dive inside and explore new worlds for a while.

However, insanely busy daily schedules and noise from the outside world both work against our reading habits. Invariably, I will sit down for a reading session and one or two pages in the family dog will start barking or need to be let outside and then back in. Delivery trucks seem to arrive at the turn of a page, and sounds from the TV in the next room always seep into my ears and distract my inner narrator. Plus, if your cell phone is within reach, it’s very tempting to check out something quickly and then lose an hour to endless scrolling.

Hey, maybe escaping to the bathroom and reading from the tub isn’t such a bad idea after all. Do they make ponchos for books?

Peace and quite can be elusive in this busy world. So, I like to curl up with a book just before going to bed. The rest of my household is asleep even the dog and UPS is off until morning. Reading that late helps me fall asleep more quickly sometimes too quickly, as I often wake up hours later with the lights still on and the book wide open.

But that’s a small price to pay for a little serenity in my book enclave. And it beats falling asleep in the bathtub.

A story of hope

When I helped edit this story, I couldn’t help thinking this type of story is why I have pursued journalism across my lifetime.

DNT crime and courts reporter Tom Olsen and photographer Clint Austin spent countless hours gathering information and images for a three-part series on St. Louis County’s Safe Babies Court. The first story was published last week. Part three hits the DNT website and print/e-editions on Saturday.

It’s a story of hope in a system that often lacks that precious human desire. Olsen and Austin beautifully chronicle the program that helps people put their shattered lives back together, escape the shackles of drug use and reunite with their children.

It is a subscriber-only story, but subscriptions from our readers help make this type of journalism possible.

Will feds help flip bill?

When reading about dramatic rescues in remote settings, we rightfully focus on the heroics and lives saved.

But those wilderness deliverances come with a financial cost, and the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners hopes the feds can chip in and offset expenses that come with rescuing folks in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

DNT reporter Peter Passi explored this topic this past week and told readers about the high costs rung up by the St. Louis County Rescue Squad.

Duluth’s lunar connection

This week Northlandia goes to the moon!

Well, sort of.

Jimmy Lovrien, one of our dedicated Northlandia reporters, discovered a Duluth connection to lunar research and the moon landings from the 1960s and 70s.

Lovrien’s story involves a University of Minnesota professor noticing how basalt found in an abandoned Duluth quarry had similar qualities to lunar soil samples.

It’s an interesting tale of how a professor’s sharp eye and scientific instincts intersected with lunar research.

Catch a wave

Here are a few more stories from the past week to check out:

City Hall stalemate: Duluth councilors deadlocked on use of pandemic aid Puck prowess: Before he could walk, Proctor’s A.J. Reyelts was a goalie (Subscriber-only story) Local View: Duluth’s waterfront a result of creativity, good timing Photos and video: Minnesota ‘puzzlers’ put it together at Depot Astro Bob: Bright planets tussle with twilight

Editor’s note: Weekly Wave is a newsletter that I publish every Friday morning. Please consider subscribing it’s free and hits your inbox just once a week. You can sign up here.

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