Vacation at Home

Roaming Bookstores and Libraries  

Following your interests, studying deeply, rapt attention, novels, unforgettable characters, the smell of old paper, finding used hard covers of favorites, author’s readings, the ecstatic life of the mind. . . 

 

 

One rainy day last winter I took a sojourn to our local library and had so much fun that it has since become a regular outing. I forgot about libraries! What a treasure they are! This is an absolutely free way of taking a vacation at home. And most towns, no matter how small, have a library.   

I wandered up many flights of stairs that memorable afternoon and found my way to the very top floor where the historical archives are kept. I had a lovely time of it gazing at the grainy, black and white pictures of my town back in another century.

 

I took a long, loving look at our history, immersing myself in the scenes of Lake Merritt and looking deeply into the eyes of the people. It transported me. I experienced a magical connection with my ancestors for a brief interlude in that library.   

I found shelves of essays about my beloved Paris, whole rooms of mysteries and literature, and several rock and roll memoirs. I looked up authors I had always wanted to try, and found old children’s books in the reference room. (Remember Laura Ingalls Wilder, Lucy Maud Montgomery and Nancy Drew?)

 

It was way cool; an abundant feast for the mind. I have since passed many a fine hour in our old public library. I can go on vacation a mile from my home any time I want.   

Another vacation activity is scouting used book stores. Part of the reason I go there is for the smell. There is nothing like that slightly musty aroma that calls up memories of curling up with a good book, a fire and my kitties.

 

When I really love a book I want it for our collection and I want it in hard cover. Used bookstores are bar none the best places to find used hardcovers of my favorites, especially good literature. I may even find an old edition or a signed copy!

 

There is nothing more gratifying to get it home and gaze at our library and see all of my favorite books grouped by beloved authors, beautifully bound in hard cover, waiting to be savored.  Ahhh. . . the ecstatic life of the mind!