LITERARY LEGACY

How coincidental that on the very day I read Jeffrey McCarthy’s article The Thoreau Approach (October) I flipped my day-by-day calendar of meaningful quotes and encountered this one by Thoreau: “He is the best sailor who can steer within the fewest points of the wind, and extract a motive power out of the greatest obstacles.” My grandfather was a Maine farmer and a fan of Thoreau’s writing. He was a “jack of all trades” who appreciated efficiency, economy and nature. I read some Walden excerpts at his funeral. He never sailed, but I believe he would be proud that I do.

— Jim Ouellette MD, Colchester, CT