On my way to check my mail yesterday, I heard someone call my name. Allen came jogging out of the campus library to stop me. I used to work at the library, so I knew Allen fairly well. I wondered if he was going to ask me to consider coming back to work for my last quarter at college.
“You know about the READ contest that we opened to students?” he asked.
I did recall reading about that in our campus newspaper. You know those giant READ posters in libraries, with pictures of celebrities holding their favorite books? We have them all over our campus library. We also have three posters with professors holding their favorite books, after we held a contest voting on who should go on a READ poster. I guess this year the contest was opened to three students. I wondered whether it was too late to get nominated.
“A faculty member nominated you,” Allen continued, “and you won!”
“I won?!” My voice shot up to a soprano’s octave. ”Really? I wonder who nominated me! I won? Oh my gosh, I’m so excited!” With all this joy gushing up inside me, I considered hugging Allen, but I didn’t want to freak him out.
“So just be thinking of which book you’d like to have, and we’ll contact you about taking your picture.”
“Oh, I know already.” There is only one book I will have by my side. And no, it’s not the Bible. It’s a different kind of Bible.
Allen, sensing my need to touch something to be sure this wasn’t just a dream, lightly patted my arm as he walked back into the library.
Gone with the Wind, here I come. I wonder which of my six copies of Gone with the Wind I should pose with. Should I pose as though I’m smelling its pages? ’Cause that’s all I do. (I read it, too, rest assured. Current count: six times.)
I talked to my mom about which books I’ll have to offer on the sacrificial altar when we move to Alaska. We need to downsize, so I have to sell the majority of my bookshelf’s prized titles. She asked whether I’d part with any of my Gone with the Wind copies. I’m considering it, but I honestly have solid justification for owning so many:
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a tattered copy with a spine that’s falling apart and missing pages from the front—the first copy I ever read, which used to belong to our hometown library; they were going to get rid of it but I asked to keep it for sentimental reasons, and since I was employed there (which libraries haven’t I worked in??), they took it out of circulation and gave it to me
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a collector’s edition that came with a pamphlet and ribbon bookmark, bought from Half-Priced Books
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a different Half-Priced Books buy, a Christmas present from Robby, which has a cover I’ve never seen before
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a hardback copy, whose cover I had laminated…I don’t read that copy…it is for display purposes only…and it smells like the breath of angels
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a small paperback copy that is allowed to get shoved in a purse and otherwise battered—I took it on vacation with me this year
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a hardback copy that’s allowed to get battered—I need one that’s hardback so I can read and eat at the same time and not worry about creases
Oh, Scarlett O’Hara, I love you. You’ve made all my dreams come true.
Congratulations! Will these posters be at other places besides Otterbein? I’d like to get a copy. Maybe you could wear one of those new dresses you feel guilty about buying. That might help alleviate some of the guilt:)
That’s really exciting! I’ll see the poster and say, “I know her”! I can’t believe you have six copies of Gone with the Wind. But the question is…do you have six copies of the Bible? I’m sure you do though because I know I have at least that many. lol
Hmmm… I think I’m seeing a pattern develop here. You have six copies of Gone with the Wind and you’ve read it six times. You have probably six copies of the Bible. If we use inductive reasoning we can determine that… Wow! You’ve read your Bible through SIX TIMES?
Your title reminds me of some great dialog from The Simpsons. Bart is totally embarrassed for being naked in public and says: “This is the worse day of my entire life!” And Homer replies: “Worse day of your entire life… so far.” So this is the highlight of your year… so far. It’s only March. Without a doubt.
Haha! Sarah that is perfect for you! Congratulations! You’ll be leaving a lasting memory on the Otterbein Library well after you graduate
I felt very lucky to have run into you that day. I often see the other two that won, but figured that I would have to give you a call. It was much better telling you in person – very sweet.
-Allen
This is awesome, Sarah. I dare you to pose with a video game console instead of a book.
Congratulations Sarah! This is just another one of the many wonderful things that have come your way lately! I must say I share your love for Gone With the Wind but sadly I do not have the first copy that I read. I say you should definitely keep that copy!
[...] got super-pumped to find out my face would be on a READ poster in our campus library? (See entry here.) The READ poster has arrived! Here’s the [...]