The Wizard of Oz

Ah, Thanksgiving. A time for family and feasting. A time for football and fun. A time for "The Wizard of Oz." (Okay, so that one didn't start with an "F." Oh, well.)

Since childhood, the television screening of "The Wizard of Oz" has coincided with the Thanksgiving period, and sure enough, last night, it was on. Of course, we watched it, and my eldest child, having read the book, was able to tell us some of the backstory. The little one, like many little ones, did not like the flying monkeys. But I digress.

In honor of this annual whimsical journey into the land created by L. Frank Baum, here are a few randoms:

1. Dorothy was named for a niece of Frank Baum's who died in infancy.

2. Frank Baum came up with the name "Oz" when he was looking at his filing cabinet and saw the letters "A-N" and "O-Z."

3. In the movie, the Professor is wearing a coat of Frank Baum's that the wardrobe department found in a second-hand thrift store.

Sigh, back to reality.