Once, in third grade, my picture was in the newspaper. I was standing on tiptoe, peering into the card catalog at the local children’s library. As I remember it, my plaid wool coat and boots were stylin, and quite fashion forward, now that I look at my current closet. (Mom, do you still have this clipping?)
And score! My favorite book about a young ice skater was checked in and available. This meant my roller skating classes conducted for the general education of the neighborhood kids in my trailer park could re-commense. Seriously.
Remember these?
That day, my teacher also asked the librarian to recommend a new biography for me, by way of branching out. I was skeptical. But into my stack of skating books went a book about Louis Braille. By the end of the year, I’d checked it out so many times from our bookmobile, I was worried I might press smooth the braille alphabet stamped onto the back cover. But I had to practice! I also made a mental note to discover what an awl was and stay away from them like the plague. (Note: A young Louis playing with leather punching tools led to his accident, infection, and blindness. Lesson learned. I don’t punch leather.)
Two weeks ago, I bellyached at the table about my novel researching blues. It was a dead end. A zero. No one had the newspaper I needed and basically my life was death.
Between bites, my nephew suggested that I email a librarian from where ever the newspaper came from… I nearly choked from the simplicity.
And I nearly stroked out when, a week later, four emails hit my inbox from the Alexander Turnbull Library, the National Library of New Zealand, with scans attached of the exact newspaper I needed from 1918. He included a lovely note and offered further help if I should need it.
Don’t you decorate with masking tape?
I grabbed the nephew in a bear hug when he came home that day. He did not approve. And after much spinning and twirling about the kitchen, the hubs put up a new sign.
So, problem solved, story progresses, and the family proceeds with dinner with less anxiety from the female quadrant. When was the last time you hugged a librarian?
I think I’ll send him a puppy.
And the nephew saves the day! Oh girl, how I love that sign JP put up! bwhahahaha! What a sense of humor your man has! Isn’t it lovely how a simple idea can be brilliant? I’ve been lacking in those as of late. Must be the bronchitis that has me nearly coughing up a lung or two. How is your research coming along? Methinks you on your free time you should start a new WIP with the title “The Heiress to My Debt.” bwhahaha! Think about it!
Oh no, bronchitis is awful!! It definitely sucks the humor out of everything, unless you can attend an event and dress up as Typhoid Mary. Then you’d be the life and death of the party. HA! And I definitely have dibs on the book title. Hilarious!! Get well soon, my friend!
Thank you, lady! I forgot to tell you that The Weird Sisters finally arrived! I’m already reading it!
There is nothing better than a great librarian!
Right? Talk about treasure trove gatekeeper!