01 May, 2014

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

Marcus Aurelius wrote, "the universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make of it."This was first illustrated to me in a children's book that I first read, as you might expect, as a child: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.

The story in brief begins with Mike and his steam shovel, Mary Ann, proudly building America during the first industrial revolution only to find themselves replaced by new diesel powered machinery.  Steam shovels are thrown aside and our builders find themselves cast off and without a place in the world they had known.  Mary Ann is confronted with an existential threat.  Mike finds his loyalty tested.

The ending is a happy one.  It is a story of adapting to change and I am not going to spoil it for you.  I'd bet your local library has a well worn copy.

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