June Mini Alphabet

June's mini challenge is to review a book about a father figure.  Like Sands Through the Hourglass is the story of Bill and Susan Seaforth Hayes.  Bill is certainly a father figure as he raised his five children after his divorce from their mother, Mary.  Susan, when she married him was introduced as their stepmother by the spouses of his children and as Susan by the children.  Bill joining the soap "Days of Our Lives" was is part to be able to be home with the children and not on the road.

The title of the book comes from the beginning of "Days" and is spoken by the late McDonald Carey still "Like sands through an hourglass, these are the days of our lives."  Certainly, the book takes us through many of the days of the lives of its authors.  Bill and Susan each tell us about their backgrounds and some of their experiences in show business.  Throughout there are references to Bill's children.  I think the following says why I feel this book fits this mini challenge, "my children, who are--and always will be---my life's treasures,"  if only every father could feel that way.

I am happy to see that I had the opportunity to meet Bill Hayes, many years ago, when he was appearing in summer stock.  He did give me an autograph and I am sure I still have it in my possession.  I may have heard of this book before but an article about the new book the two had written mentioned their autobiography.  I purchased both books, this one in hard copy and the other as an e-book.  There are many things I learned about the Hayes that I did not know before and I really recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a good autobiography.  They mention the famous people they worked with and met in a very positive manner.

We often forget how people whose skins are darker than ours were treated in the early days of television.  Stars like Pearl Bailey, Lena Horne and Nat Cole were not allowed to work with whites on camera.  Bill has an appreciation of diversity as do I and mentions others who have been taught negative concepts as violence and hate.  He then refers to the same Hammerstein song that I refer to often "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught."  We need to remember not to teach our children more about acceptance of others vs hating those we hate.  If I feel ill will toward someone, I hope it is for an action they have taken toward me vs the color of their skin or their political affiliation.