post #10

false.  date this was written: march 16.

having been trained in two other departments, i feel well-rounded.

fattening the pig before the kill, i suppose.

the patrons will never cease to amaze me, i hope to never lose my sense of awe at the next question. being tax season and presidential election year, there is a never-ending hum of governmental jargon – like the air conditioner you hadn’t realized it was on until you turn it off, and the room sounds flat and lifeless. before understanding the “stimulus repayment” rebate thing (obviously, i haven’t caught the animal long enough to get its name), i would have patrons equally vague asking “do you have that form that Bush was talking about giving you $300?” “why yes,” i feel like replying. “This tax form here says ‘i am Bush. have some money.’” mind you, i say this all in sarcastic stride, because i can only laugh at my own situation – not enough money to even file my taxes. there’s some truth for you.

today i worked on a project using the mircrofilm (!) machines to read 1930’s newspapers in Springfield, trying to find an article about a supposed relative who supposedly tried out for the Olympics and supposedly got 2nd place in track and field. I could only suppose for luck. I suppose. Unsuccessful, because of the various emphases on winners, I could not help but wonder about every 2nd placer, whether they deserve a news story, or would rather hide in caves for what they almost achieved.

that aside, i had a question this week from the same “child labor in Africa” lady (see post #6). questions about how to make the earth greener and prevent pollution. she loved the idea about riding bikes and carpooling.

i feel like this post is really lame but i haven’t written in a while.

there was also a mother and daughter i recognized from a church i used to go to, they live in low-class conditions, and while waiting for me to find a book for the daughter, the daughter pulls out a gift she bought for her mom in the bookstore. “It’s a pendant,” she says, “to show you how much you mean to me, mom.” And she read off the pendant oblivious to me (I rather loved this company), and directly to her mother, in words that sounded like, “You have made so much sacrifices for me, and words cannot express how much you mean to me. I love you so much, Mom.” And they rested in an embrace of affection as her mother replied with returning words of adoration.