Being Short in a Tall World

 As I've mentioned in several previous posts, I love the Library.    And I looked forward to retirement in part to spend unrushed moments enjoying the ambiance of the tall ceilings and windows, beautiful wood touches, the hushed tones which gives the place a feeling of retreat.  I picked up a book to browse and pulled out a chair to sit at the tall, sturdy wood table only to have a literally sinking sensation as I was lowering myself into a surprisingly short chair.   I felt like I was in the first grade and was in a big kid class sitting at their giant desks.   The effect being as in this photo taken on an antique store ramble with my brother. 

 

The library had recently gone through upgrade and renovation and somewhere along the line they decided to get lower chairs?  Brilliant.     I've sat at the very same table for many years and I don't think I've had a recent massive shrinking in height.   So I decided that this picture was a perfect visual to include with an e-mail complaining about their  furniture choice.    Luckily I decided to take a deep breath and observe the situation again.  I've been back a couple of times and see people sitting at the tables looking comfortable and unaware of the problem.   Of course they were all tall... taller than me anway.  So luckily I didn't send my cranky missive to the good people of the Seattle library system.   And on a 2nd sitting at the table, it wasn't quite as shocking as the 1st time.    Maybe if I do some Yoga stretching, I'll get to the point where I can comfortably place my elbows on the tables again. 

 

 

 

Things Change

A mid-afternoon gloom was settling in as I took a walk in West Seattle





I was taking a new route and came upon my local library from a different perspective. There it appeared like a beacon in the dark which of course libraries have been over the years.

  I hope this lovely Carnegie library with all its lovely books won't become a thing of the past. 

Kindle world doesn't have a beautiful building on a hill but boy oh boy does it have books.   



Nine virtual books on my Kindle compared to nine actual books on my table



I'm starting to enjoy being old enough to talk about the old days.  I remember first learning how to use the library by picking through the tightly packed card catalogue in order to find the Dewey Decimal System clue to the book or magazine article I wanted. 

I spent less than 30 seconds to download this book after spending a few minutes on a wireless connection to find my latest read.

I understood the basics of the library system.  I have no clue how it is I can put any book I want on this thin Kindle.  The quote from the Wizard of Oz keeps coming to mind.  "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

Life in the Slow Lane

I took a stay-cation for 2 weeks in January.   I enjoyed doing things that are nearby.   Staying home is easy, relaxing and cheap...    And you get to avoid going through Sea-Tac's body scanners or gropers which is another plus.  

  

 

 Mom was a famous stay at home type.  I would tell

Mom and me 1955

her of an exciting trip I was planning and she would say

things like 'the moon is just the same wherever you go'.

I'm finally taking that to heart.

I rediscovered the Seattle Central Library.  I've only been there a few times since it was built. Now I had time to do something besides admire it from a distance.  I'm usually just catching glimpses of its amazing architecture while driving by.

At the corner of Madison and 5th -



Escalator to book heaven



  There are a million books (literally) in this library.  I checked one out. 



       There is something to say for 'slow living' , staying home, enjoying the little things and rediscovering what is right around you.  Now I'm back into the fast pace, multi-tasking and high energy world of work and liking that too.  The yin and yang of life       

Leslie the Librarian

Today was Toddler story time at the West Seattle Library.  I love this place. I love everything about libraries.  Why I didn't become a librarian is a mystery now that I think about it.  Now the big, bad budget crisis is affecting this place too.  Leslie says in a week or so they will know who is staying, who is being reassigned to another location, who loses a job.  And just before Christmas ..

 Reading to the 18mos to 3year olds  she used her froggy voice, her bear voice and her cricket voice to keep this perpetual motion group tuned in to the winter time story.  Bianca was held in rapt attention which bodes well for her school days.                                 

                                         
   The librarian offers a special stamp for your hand at the end of story time.  A nice little reminder of the special occasion.

               

Hope we can keep our priorities straight.  This library and its librarians offer an inviting space for children to explore, run their little hands over the books and allow reading to become a fun and ongoing interest that will serve them well.  And we need these little ones to take over someday so lets teach them well. 

Bianca was so engrossed by the puzzles on the table that I couldn't get her to look up for my picture taking.  Curious George didn't mind posing though.

Library Day

 First trip to the West Seattle Library

This looks like a good one

Reading room