July 08, 2010

Visiting an Old Friend is Always Fun

One of the many highlights of my childhood was walking to the local library. William Alexander Percy Memorial Library was about 8 or 9 blocks from my house and walking there after school or on weekends was one of the few glimpses of freedom I was privy too.

I mean really. What parent would look at you twice if you asked to go to the library to study, prepare for a school writing project or participate in a summer reading program. It was the perfect escape.

I'm not saying I always made it to the library. But who gives a rat's bum about those minor details.

Jacob and Jordan tagged along. The whole trip was to finally scratch off some of the books on Jacob's summer reading list. We decided on one from the Hardy Boys series.

The place was just as I remembered....quiet, cool, and bookishly inviting. If I were delusional, I'd swear the little prude at the information desk was the same one who issued me my first library card over 20 years ago.

There were a few new items - 10 to 20 computers have taken the place of the card catalog (ha! remember that heinous wooden block of drawers?).  The furniture was basically the same and the place smelled like books.

I proudly signed up for a new library card and spent the last few minutes reminiscing about the fun times spent there so many many years ago. I'm not sure how often kids use the library these days but I think it's sad that it's not as necessary as it used to be.

My library excursions made me feel like a big girl. I could walk there on my own, study without being threatened on my own, find the material I needed on my own - a real sense of accomplishment.

Once we left with our Hardy Boys mystery we walked up Main Street and snapped a few more photos....

St. Joseph Catholic Church built in 1907


stone kids praying to a stone Virgin Mary in the church garden


Ummm...some pretty flowers