Why
H ave you ever read the children's book *Frederick* by Leo Lionni? Frederick, a thoughtful field mouse, spent his days ob serving his surroundings and collecting memories of the warm sunrays while his friends worked hard to prepare for winter. When the weather turned cold and his friends grew more despondent, Frederick reminisced about the warmth of the sun on their faces, which helped them endure the dark, cold winter. Over the years, as I read and reread this favorite book of my children, Frederick became one of my favorites, too. Ironically, I now understand why. I, too, see myself as an observer who gathers helpful information for others when they need it most.