Finally went to the library today.
Summer (and the thought of it) has always included trips to the library where my sister and I would go in for one or two quick things and leave with more books than we could carry.
There’s something about the library that has always fascinated me.
Maybe because it’s a place that holds so many intriguing stories. Maybe it’s because of the librarians (the keepers of the books ;). Maybe because it’s a place where anyone, no matter who, can just walk in and pick up a well-loved book and enjoy it. I don’t know but it’s always been a place of wonders to me.
Today I was so happy to find a lovely collection of books that I could check out and hug home. I realized during check out that they had a “self-check out” computer which upset me because well, librarians are everything. I love the conversations I have with them while they are scanning my books, how they remember what you checked out a little while ago and ask you what you thought of it, how you can run inside on a rainy day and the first thing you’ll see is a smile on their faces and a hear a soft “hello”, and how they know about everything in that library (that’s a lot). I guess this is something else I can’t quite put my finger on but it’s one of the many simple joys of life.
I guess not a lot of people see it like that, but I missed it (all of it) and it made everything feel really good to go back today.
After we finished checking out today, my sister and I tried to find a strategic way to get all of those books to the car without getting them wet (since it had just magically started pouring outside). We arranged, and rearranged about ten times and then ended up deciding that my sister would just go bring her car to the front of the library then I’d just run them out. While I was outside, waiting under the awning, a small old lady stepped out next to me. “Oh my,” she said, looking out at the pouring rain. “Where did all this rain come from?”
I turned and smiled at her. “I just hope my books don’t get wet,” I said laughing. She smiled back then looked down at the stack of books I was carrying. Oh my God, she probably thinks I’m crazy.
Then she looked at the things she was carrying: a piece of paper, her purse and a newspaper. She looked up at me and unfolded the newspaper and covered my books with it, gently tucking the bottom of it under my fingers. As soon as I realized what she was doing I quickly said “oh, thank you so much!”
“Not at all, dear! that otta keep ‘em dry.” she said. “I’ll just go back inside and get another one” She smiled again and left.
Made my day :)
