Once upon a time, my Grandmother worked at my elementary school as a librarian. My favorite memories of my Grandma were at her book fairs. Seeing droves of books piled on tables that I could barely peer over made me feel small and powerful all at the same time. I remember how forbidden the books looked because they were untouched: perfectly smooth, shiny, and new. And, the smell! I just wanted to grab one so I could be the first to open the pages!
I remember staying late with her at those fairs – in fact, I got in trouble once for not calling my Mom and telling her where I was!! But, I’d watch all the families walk up and down the aisles quickly reading titles. I remember stacking the books and getting frustrated when the books weren’t treated “just right.” Mostly, I remember watching my Grandma work with tremendous pride.
In my last conversation with my Grandma, she told me her proudest moments were as a librarian. Thank you, Grandma, for reading to me, for putting books into the hands of hundreds of children, for showing me about passion and dedication. This blog is for you.