the library..

Oh how I love the library..let me count the ways..The library..books..peace..silence..reverence..faint smiles..oderly..respect..these words are a few reasons why I love the library..Today, while in downtown Riverside..I drove past the Riverside Library..built in the late 60's..I remember with such fondess the first day the libary opened to the wonderful people of Riversde..I went with my father..who was an avid library attendee..You could always find Dad at the Arlington CA library..he emersed himself in books and always had two or three books going at once..He loved mystery novels..history..stories about war..usually WW1 and WW2..he would read and study about battle..I think he knew every battle..who won, who lost and what general screwed up..and sent the boys into harms way...My dad never got over his own uncle who was killed in battle during WW1..a newfoundland boy..just a mere 19..killed in France..I grew up hearing about war.,.battle..marching..the boys..the food...the uniform..4 years marching with the Canadian Army..Dad said his war years were the best years of his life..Dad landed in Normandy on D Day and was always so proud of that...

Today, when i glanced at the Library..a huge emotional reactioin came over me..tears started to flood down my cheeks.,.I had to pull over as I could not see to drive.."Dad, were you really gone?" "Dad, am I really 53?" "your age Dad"! why does time..become an enemy to us all?. I find that getting old or "older" one of the saddest things we humans have to endure..short of losing a child..I long to see my mother's young face..my Dad's brisk walk and comanding voice..I would love to hear the sound of the old Hi-fi playing Johnny Cash or Dean Martin..these are all precious memories that i'll never forget..I feel so fortunate that I can feel the depths of my rich family history..I also feel blessed that my father taught me the love of books..the written word..".books are your best friend" he would say.

Books.. never let you down..they can be tucked under your arm..like a teddy bear..you can read the last page over and over..there are no rules..I will always love the library..books and the sound of the librarian..whispering softy.."the new books are over there" i'll walk to the new books..look them over..and decide that i really want to check out an old book.. why i'm an old book now...