Jonathan
Livingston Seagull
by Richard Bach
"The gull sees
farthest that flies highest."
"Beyond a few
hundred feet,
I can lift this old body no higher.
But you can, Jonathan. For you have learned.
One school has finished and the time has come for another to begin."
Richard Bach - Jonathan Livingston
Seagull
Published by The Macmillan Publishing Co. in
1970. First Avon Books printing January 1973.
You may have seen this book many times over
the years... in libraries, at yard sales... The copy pictured above is the actual
copy I had read prior to going on the Odyssey. It is Richard's cult classic
story about a seagull who bravely follows his dream of truly learning how to fly,
overcoming his own and imposed limitations, even enduring expulsion from his flock. More
than any other book, it truly helped to inspire my journey around the world.
I thought of Jonathan many times during the journey, and even felt a bit like him at
times.
On December 10, 1999, Richard Bach
came to a bookstore in my new hometown of Victoria, BC, Canada, to promote his latest
book, Out of My Mind. It was an awesome opportunity to
meet the man whose books continue to inspire me. It was also a chance to share this
with my son Jonathan, whose name was influenced by Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
There was a long line of people clutching
newly-purchased books by Richard Bach, eager to see this literary legend and have him sign
their books. I bought Jonathan a current copy of this paperback book (looks
identical to the original) and we got in line. Richard was lean and graying, with
the look of both an adventurer and professor. Finally, he looked at us and
smiled. There was a twinkle in his piercing blue eyes. He signed Jonathan's
book.
I was a bit shy about asking an author to
sign an old copy of one of his books. But that particular copy had helped inspire my
journey. I only had a few moments to talk with him, but I managed to tell him about
the journey and how Jonathan Livingston Seagull had helped
inspire it.
"That's wonderful!" he said.
And then he signed my worn copy of the book
boldly and with flair:
"For Tom!
Who knows and lives this spirit - Richard Bach"
You can see the extra artwork he added... a
lone seagull flying a loop, the brilliant sun...
We shook hands and smiled in mutual
understanding. And then I gave way to the admirers behind me.
