102319 102320
In the 7th inning of ALCS game 5
Giovanny Urshela smashed a deep fly
Josh Reddick ran hard to the corner in right
surprise! a basket catch -
we thought he’d reach high.
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For 44 years, my wife made my lunch every day before I left for work. Not every day but the vast majority, many months 20 for 20. My Scottish heritage deters buying lunch. Her friendly care has never been complaining. Very much David Copperfield’s Peggotty and Mr. Barkis.
Or so I thought. In March, I began working from home. I haven’t worked a day in the office since the Covid pandemic. It’s fun to come downstairs at 6 or 7pm and announce, “I’m home!” But when I come downstairs at noon, there is no lunch. I make my own. Fair is fair of course but I’m as intrigued by the recent abandonment as I am by the accumulation of so many years with a ready-made lunch. I’m not complaining any more than Mr. Barkis did — there’s usually homemade cookies, cupcakes, and in season, always apple pie.
To continue with my subject, I’ll tell a story of Dawn’s library years. She is as sweet to others as she is to me. I was volunteering at the library about 15 years ago and persuaded her to help sort books for the book sale. As her confidence increased, she accepted more responsibility, becoming caretaker of the “For Sale” racks near the front door. A position opened for a part-time Librarian’s Page in the Children’s Room. She was offered the job. With some anxiety, she accepted. Within months, she became the world’s best Children’s Room Page. I’ve known that she is nearly savant with arranging cupboards, shelves and drawers. Soon the entire library staff knew it as well. Ask her a title, she knew where. When non-English speaking moms needed books for book reports, she would give the mom a native language edition and English for the kid. Puppet show helper? Enjoying the kids. We’d see the kids’ moms in the grocery store, they’d hug her to say hello.
All that is fluff without the big accomplishment, the innovation. For decades, the oversized books were crammed on the bottom shelves. Many didn’t fit into the shelf standing up. Instead, they were stuffed in with the title on the spine invisible and, for little hands, difficult to pull. She re-arranged the entire room, thousands of books, co-locating all sizes with spines facing out.
A library highlight was on her 60th birthday. Our daughter arrived at 2PM with a birthday cake made of 60 whoopee pies. All the library staff hugged and congratulated their co-worker who nearly cried with embarrassed affection.
The end came a few years later. Up and down, up and down, crouching and bending up and down began to hurt her hips. She kept going to work but it was evident that walking was painful. She was accepted and very good at her job. That’s difficult to leave. She said it didn’t hurt that bad. Next, relief. Her best friend since 6th grade suggested to surprise her for her birthday. Wonderful! I met them at the airport, settled luggage at home, and drove them to the library after work. When my wife saw her friend, she cried. Our daughter and her SO were already seated at the restaurant when we arrived. Oh my goodness, she could hardly walk but her face was pinched with tears of joy. She retired soon after.
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