It's Bill, 9/13/26: Bill Reads
Finding My Voice
A couple of years ago, Patricia asked me, “Would you like to do karaoke with me?”
“I can’t sing.”
“You don’t have to, you just have to read the words and sing along.”
“I can’t sing!”
Okay, okay, I could tell this was not really a question. Patricia explained that our friend, Cookie, was getting a karaoke evening together at Kurt Anderson’s music studio. She told Cookie that I would join Patricia. Of course, Patricia was right.
But I still didn’t know how to sing. Checking with Kurt, I found out that Jean, with a lifetime of professional singing and performing, would give us lessons. We both signed up. Here’s some good news, I’m not going to talk about the lessons. Jean was an excellent instructor and helped us find our voices.
We had fun performing Jelly Roll’s “Save Me.” It was a hit! Later, I took solo lessons with Jean to help me with public speaking and reading aloud.
Robert Service and the Yukon
About that time, I came across some of my Dad’s Robert Service poetry books about the Yukon Gold Rush that started in 1896. One of my favorite poems was “The Cremation of Sam McGee.”
I would read the poem aloud to Jean. Jean showed me how to breathe and put some emotion in my voice, like an actor in a play. As I read more of Robert Service’s poetry, I learned and practiced various intonations and voices. And to breathe, breathe from my chest. None of my prior, flat monotones. I had fun!
Patricia was not familiar with Robert Service, his life in the Yukon and his poetry. So, I started reading Robert Service aloud to Patricia. I loved to read, Patricia loved to listen. We both had our own favorite poems. In a few months, we went through two books of Service’s poems.
From Robert Service to Jack London
During the Yukon Gold Rush era, another great writer lived and mined in the Yukon. Jack London, who later wrote his classic, “The Call of the Wild,” wrote many stories and novels based on his life experiences in the Yukon. I chose to read several selections of Jack to Patricia.
We became enchanted with our Real Adventurers of the Yukon, from the writers who had lived a real life, sharing their souls.
We’re doubly hooked. One, me reading aloud to Patricia, as we go back through time. Two, by our two author heroes, writing and thriving in the Yukon. We want more!
Burning Daylight
Among my Dad’s books is a c. 1920 novel by Jack London titled “Burning Daylight.” Burning Daylight’s protagonist is Elam Harnish, a rough-and-tumble Yukon gold miner whose nickname is Burning Daylight. Elam told his Yukon partners to get up early because they were burning daylight.
We loved Burning Daylight! Full of real adventure. And reading aloud, as theater, London’s novel took on new dimensions for us.
We didn’t stop there. You’ll see!
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