Since in about 137 days, I’m going to be leaving my career after 33 years and entering a new phase, I thought it would be a good time to start my own blog. I’m certainly not without an opinion on most things, and what will I do if I don’t have teachers to send book lists to on a regular basis? Maybe a big part of this endeavor will be just that…sharing.
Tonight, I just want to share random thoughts about books and edginess and life after almost 55 years. Certainly, life after 33 years at the same job. Certainly, life as it has flown by after being hired on August 2, 1985 to cover for an English teacher’s one year maternity leave. And certainly life after the past five years of major life changes, serious health issues and some challenging personal relationships and tragic losses.
I have no words of wisdom, but I do have cynical and snarky words of observation. I have no happy quotes to coax you through your day. I have no real reason to even think anyone wants to read this, but I do know that I need to write it, if only for me.
One of the first things that my dad said to me when he came out of the surgery that diagnosed his terminal cancer was, “Dedicate your first book to me.” Well, Dad, I might be a disappointment in that area. I like to write; I have stories to tell, yet I have no ability or motivation to put anything together into something organized. I’m a damn good reader, and that’s exactly what you taught me to do every minute with you. All of our trips to the Bookmobile and the infrequent trips to the downtown Madison library stuck; they stuck so securely that they ended up being my life’s work. Unfortunately, good readers don’t always translate into organized writers. I’ll dedicate this first blog post to you, and it will have to be sufficient.
This is turning out to be far more contemplative than I wanted it to be. I prefer funny to contemplation, but since I decided to move on with my life and finally leave school after 50 years, I find that I have a lot of nostalgic moments. I’m sure those will crop up more and more as this year draws to a close. For now, let’s simply acknowledge they’re there and sit with them for awhile.
Books that are impacting me right now…Dark Nights of the Soul by Thomas Moore ( a shout-out to one of the most wonderful people in my life, Russell), Targeted by M William Phelps (what’s life without true crime?) and Counting Backward: A Doctor’s Notes on Anesthesia by Henry Jay Przybylo (because who can’t resist a book on the history of anesthesia). I just finished listening to One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus (interesting YA mystery) and am now listening to Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz. On deck, thanks to my wonderful hair lady, Jemree, We are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby.
To add a little color to the night, it’s difficult callers night at the emergency vet. Why is it that I get so incredibly angry when someone calls me “honey”? And why am I still having PTSD from my teeth extraction on Thursday? And why can’t the next 137 days be snow days?
With affection,
The Edgy Librarian
The Edgy Librarian 