Right now I am sitting at the circulation desk of the West Chester Public Library. I’m terribly bored, so I figured I’d pay a visit to the gooood old blog.
WHY, you may ask, am I sitting here?! Well. It’s a magical story actually.
Back in December I had a little run-in with The Law (another, equally magical story), and the (eventual) fallout of that incident was that I was assigned 30 hrs of SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. They gave me a list of approved organizations I could serve and sent me on my way. As I dolefully scanned this meager list of organizations, my eyes immediately leaped to the LIBRARY, not only because it seemed lightyears more appealing than the Housing Authority or the Crime Victims Center, but ALSO because libraries are, generally, the shit. So I called the library, but to my heartbreak and dismay they told me that NO HOURS were available! So I had to arrange things with the Housing Authority, where they said I would be cleaning elderly residences in the projects. Now, I mean in no way to imply that this is a less than noble task…just that, in contrast with working among golden rows of musty and glorious books, it sounded pretty horrible. Nevertheless, I planned to scrub away in the muck and the mire of the projects (I’m not sure why I’m speaking in such poetic hyperbole…I think it may be the effects of being at the library desk. I really actually know nothing about “the projects”, so if you are an elderly person who lives there and your home is, in fact, free of muck and mire…do forgive me) and I resigned all hope of ever basking among the dusty shelves of the West Chester Library.
BUT THEN! All of the snow happened, so I couldn’t start at the H.A., and suddenly “John” (IF THAT’S EVEN HIS REAL NAME) from the Housing Authority stopped returning my emails, and it seemed as if my one community service option had vanished beneath the drifts of soggy snow. What would happen now? Would I ever complete my hours? Would a warrant be put out for my arrest because of failure to comply, all thanks to the elusive John????! I called every organization on the list, and no hours were available. In a moment of desperation, just as I was about to spiral into an oblivion of hopelessness, I decided to give the library another try. And this time, magically, AN ABUNDANCE of hours were available!!!
So. Today is my first day. I was expecting a boring and sterile sort of library like the one near my house, but INSTEAD this one is a glorious rambling mansion with elaborate woodwork, and stained glass windows that, not even lying, would shame the cathedral at Notre Dame. And there’s a beautiful children’s section that literally makes my heart swell with joy, AND the librarians asked me if I would like to help out with story hour. STORY HOUR!!!!!!! That is seriously my LIFE’S FONDEST DREAM. I get to sit in a sunny, homey library among the colorful children’s books, and do my best Reading Rainbow-esque narration of a children’s story for dozens of fresh-faced, glowing children. And, as if all of that isn’t enough, this library ALSO is complete with a full cast of eccentric “regulars,” like homeless Jack and crazy-vest Holly who only reads mysteries…..basically I am in HEAVEN. I have almost completely forgotten that I’m here by court order.
The point of this incredibly pointless-seeming story is that even the most odious burdens can turn around to produce random little blessings. Because, like….it SUCKS that I got in trouble, and it’s been miserable trying to arrange community service. But if none of that had happened, then I would never be sitting here in my circulation desk throne, basking in the late afternoon sun as it pours through colored glass, and discussing whether or not spring has come with my new favorite regular, Eugene.
You know what, Eugene? I think it has.
