I’m a lifelong lover of libraries, so it’s hard to believe I got tossed out of one.
Anyone who knows me knows I love libraries. From childhood on, librarians have been among my best friends. That’s why it’s crazy that I once got thrown out of a college library. I lost it one evening from too much homework.
College officials had tested and placed twenty of us in an honors group where we were required to use ten books per week to write a ten-page term paper worth only two credits of a heavy class load. We digested vast amounts of material. I reached overload one night sitting at a library table with my college roommates and suddenly started reciting words and beating rhythm on the table top as if I were playing bongo drums. I have no idea why I recited lines from a Fun with Dick and Jane elementary reader. “A red ball, thump, a blue ball, thump thump, a yellow ball for sister Sally thump thump thump thump!” A small, quiet male librarian wearing half-moon glasses tiptoed over to me.
“Shuhhh,” he whispered. When I didn’t wipe the silly grin off my face fast enough, he beckoned for me to gather my pile of books and follow him as he ushered me out the door. That out-of-character disgrace only happened once, although I’m sure I felt like misbehaving at other times.
Now that I’ve taught university classes for many years, when my students reach overload, I try to remember and have compassion.
Don’t get me wrong. Libraries are wonderful and worth any price or penalty to stay there. In fact, here are four books recently released by friends I’m pleased to recommend.
Patricia Bradley – Fatal Witness
Jennifer Graeser Dornbush – Last One Alive
Hope Toler Dougherty – Forever Free
Kelly Irvin – The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos
Enjoy, be blessed, and I’ll write again in two weeks!
What out-of-character behavior have you displayed during weak moments? Were there repercussions? Or did you escape penalty and go Scot free?
Happy reading and/or writing, be blessed, and I’ll write again in two weeks.
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