I can’t remember a time I wasn’t surrounded by books. My parents loved to read – to themselves and to us. Reading was something we did everyday. The Bible was read after our evening meal. I saw my parents relax by reading and we always had books read to us before bed. A visit to the library was a regular event.
As I grew older I began to read to myself and to my younger siblings. We didn’t own a huge number of books. Our shelves were filled with those from the library. As I went off to college and into adulthood a library card has always been a prized possession. I’ve lived in lots of places in my life and can count 12 different libraries where I was an avid patron.
Lucky for me, I married a reader. I guess you could say our children, and now our grandchildren, inherited the reading gene. As adults my husband and I bought lots and lots of books and magazines. They filled every room of our house. When it came time to retire and downsize our belongings, what to do with all the books was the hardest part for me. Most of the books had become my friends.
There were some of those “friends” I absolutely could not part with. They are in storage. Our children took some of the books. Two huge boxes of children’s books went to the grandchildren. The rest? They went to the library. After all these years of receiving so much pleasure from the library, I could think of no better place for my books to go. It’s not like I can’t see them again. I can always go visit. But now it’s good they bring pleasure to others.
What is your experience with books and with the library?
I find our local library very lacking in new book bestsellers, and so sadly, I don’t bother to go to the library. Our town does have a wonderful used book store, a cash only store that will gladly trade books for your new unwanted ones. For avid readers on a budget, this is a wonderful gem!
I’m on the Wyandotte listserver too.
Saw Jay’s comment on your Blog. I must say that this is the first time I’ve ever responded to a blog. I hardly know what they are for. I much prefer a smaller audience (like email one on one) because I never have much to say. However, the books you mention has been a mainstay in my life too. I have a library in my living room that covers one whole wall from floor to ceiling. Because it is so big, I’ve stopped adding to it. Now I buy electronic volumes and carry them around with me on a flash drive so I can read them anywhere and any time.
As for libraries, that’s my wife’s thing. Our daughter in law keeps her supplied with new books all the time. I haven’t checked out a book in a long time. I prefer the electronic versions.
We have a “U” shaped kitchen which I like. I do all the cooking as my wife cannot cook anymore. She tells me what and how to cook. It’s a good arrangement.
You’ve done a good job on this blog from what I see. Enjoy it and I will return from time to time to see your progress, now that I’ve contributed.
Erick W.
Well growing up in this household has made me apreciate the written word.
But You failed to mention how every room had books. Even the bathroom had a book shelf. To this day I have to find that perfect book, or books, to take on vacation with me.