The First Day of the Rest of My Blog

I've been thinking about starting a blog for a long time, but did not start for a few reasons. First, I wanted a catchy title, and they all seemed to be taken. Today's Gift from Hazelden started with this quote, and I thought it was perfect. Besides being a librarian, my life falls into different categories or classifications. Not in a Dewey kind of way, but more like Ranganathan's system, where topics on the same subject are inter-related. For example, as I librarian a look at books in one way, as a mother in another way. I'm hoping to include book reviews, recipes, shopping tips, and my observations as I go about my day, which can be that of a typical suburban housewife or a working mother, or a "trained professional." These contrasts were most evident in my tenure as chairperson of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee of the Association of Jewish Libraries. I had the opportunity to meet some amazing authors and publishers like Karen Hesse, Katherine Paterson, and Jean Feiwel. Then I would return home and do the laundry.



Today's thoughts are rather sad. I found out my cousin Harold died on February 19th. He was my second cousin once removed, but he was the only relative I knew on my father's side of the family. Besides the sorrow for his family and friends, it also means I have one less relative in an incredibly small family. It means I have one less connection in the world. Although we were not close, in age or proximity, there was a certain comfort knowing I had a cousin in Virginia, that I could pick up a phone and hear that lovely drawl. As the years progress, there are more addresses in my book that are no longer valid, and although there are new ones being added, they are not exactly replacements. So today life really is like a library. This chapter is finished, and although there are more chapters ahead, as with a good book, I need to pause and reflect before moving on.



I've been trying to edit the MTS Taxi Guide, but technical problems have stymied my progress. I used to think I had some technical and computer savvy, but the pace of technology has passed me by, and I often feel like a Luddite, very content with my "primitive" cell phone and basic computer functions. Anyway, I could not receive the files I needed, so I am going to having to retype a lot of stuff. I finally figured everything out with the printing company, so I have no more excuses (although I could probably find some without too much thought).



Passover preparations are moving along nicely. The small pantry is almost empty, and the dry goods shopping is done. So far, my family will be eating potato chips and hearts of palm and drinking Coke and seltzer. It seems like every year we trim down the menu, which consists mainly of the above and chicken and potatoes, lots of potatoes.