There we were... the front entrance of the London Public Library's Westmount Branch. Kathleen and I have been there many times, at least once a week in recent months (and I do mean that at least... sometimes we go there as many times as 3 times a week, which considering that branch is only open 6 days a week, a 50% attendance record is fantastic). Today, there was a table at the front entrance with a bunch of books on them. These books have been on a journey. Some may have traveled internationally, left off at random in London to be picked up by someone else, read and enjoyed, and "paid forward". I looked over the table and picked up "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman. I recognized the name from the fantastic DC Sandman series and the less-fantastic (by comparison, but still awesome) Marvel 1602 series. So, now I have it.

I think the idea of Book Crossing is a good one. The book that I picked up started in Winnipeg, Manitoba... approximately 2044 kilometres (that's 1270 miles for those of you not yet on the metric system)! And now it's in my hands.

I think after I finish it, I'm going to take this book on one of our weekend trips to Toronto or Brampton... or even Norwich or Woodstock... and drop it off there (I do think, however, that Norwich and Woodstock may not be the best places to find people who can appreciate a book or a project such as American Gods or Book Crossing... I want this circle continuing to the best of it's capability).

For more information on Book Crossing, you can visit www.bookcrossing.com.

November 16-20 is Anti-Bullying Week...

They say "They're just words". And while, simplistically they are right, they are so much more than "just words". To some, they are a grenade, fragmenting in one's psyche and leaving nothing there. To others, they act as a calling to lash out. Look at the school shootings at Columbine, for example. While those guys were messed in the heads, I'm sure the harassment they received did nothing to help matters.

They say "Boys will be boys". I see that as nothing more than a cop-out used when figures of authority don't want to dish out the discipline that would be seen outside the confines of the school walls. It's especially popular to fall back on after the fact, when the time comes to explain why action wasn't taken. Boys will be boys... but there are limits to that.

They say "Kids can be so cruel". And, with a sympathetic heart, they pretend it makes a difference. Perhaps its the eternal optimist in me, but I believe kids do not start out cruel. I do believe that their actions are the result of their own environment, their upbringing. I was a kid. I was a boy. And I never bullied anyone. I was taught by my parents to have respect for everyone around me, earned or not. It was just so unfortunate that the same respect did not always travel both ways.

They say "Just get over it". Easier said than done. Asking someone who was bullied to "just get over it" is akin to asking someone who found their spouse had an affair to "just get over it". As much as we want to... and believe me, back when it happened there was nothing I wanted more than to be able to "get over it"... it's just not that simple.

I am one of the lucky ones. I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but somehow, between fourth grade and today, I managed to fight my own way through the effects of the bully's attacks. I'm sure that my grade nine year in high school, and being able to go through that without dealing with the stereotypical "niner" tag, helped. Somewhere along the way, I was able to shed the stigma of the bullying I suffered and came into my own, able to stand proud as my own person. And, while I'm happy with who I am today, I still look back at those days with great reservations.

Part of the reason why I'm glad I am where I am today is because where I am today is not back there.

November 16-20 is Anti-Bullying Week. And, as much as I wish we could all stand up and take firm action against bullying, I sadly think it will always exist. The best we can do is help those that are victimized by bullying, help them so that their stories don't end in tragedy. If they do, then society is worse off because of it.