The Library

 This morning, while I was sitting in the living room having my coffee, I was listening to a record (surprise, surprise!) called "Walt Disney's Merriest Songs".  It's a fun album and reminds me of my childhood.  Today, it took me back to the Union County Public Library.  We used to go there all of the time when I was growing up, especially during the elementary school and younger years.  

One of the things I got to check out was a record.  I loved perusing through the albums and finding something to listen to.  As I recall, they had a pretty good selection of children's albums.  Lots of times, I would get something that told a story, often with an accompanying book to look at while being read to.  Sometimes it was just music.  I know that I checked out the Mary Poppins soundtrack many times!  It was on HBO all the time in the early 80's and I was obsessed with it. 

I also checked out every version of Cinderella that they had.  Another fairy tale that I was obssessed with.  Looking back on it now, I think some of the versions I read were beyond my age but I still read them and loved them.  I love that because that was a story that I read first before ever seeing a movie version of it.  I didn't see the Disney version until years later when we got a VCR.  Remember those?  I actually think the first film version I saw was called "The Slipper and the Rose".  Haven't seen that in years.  Anyway, my love for the story started at that library.

Getting my own library card was a big deal as well.  I remember, in those days, the cards were blue paper with a little metal insert that had your library number on it.  Knowing me, I still have that card somewhere LOL  But as a child, having your own library card meant they trusted you with the responsibility of having a book.  A huge stepping stone for a child.  The card below is from a different library system but the exact same style of card!

As I am looking at ways to fill my life with free things, I realized while listening to this record that it's time I explored my public library.  I need to take advantage of it while it still exists.  So many wonderful experiences are lost to children these days because of technology and instant gratification.  I don't want our library system to get put on the endangered species list, so I must do what I can to support that institution.  Hmmmmm maybe something to add to my list this weekend. I want to be filled with that sense of wonder that only a library can bring.

That is all.