Like your old stomping grounds, many of the buildings in my childhood home have disappeared under the bulldozer, including my old elementary and middle schools, both replace with design travesties that make me wonder HUH? Despite all the development that has erased Sugarhouse, my library is still standing, a beautiful yellow brick library with a long wooden desk across from the entrance. The children's library was downstairs.
Books, libraries, and free speech! Beautiful writing about these so-important parts of our lives that we often take for granted. Our neighborhood library in the late 1950s and early 1960s was the volunteer-run West Slope library located in a musty-smelling basement space down behind a buffet restaurant. Most of the books were probably donated. The library built a nice new space but I'll never forget the old one. My first favorites were the illustrated Wizard of Oz series.
Another interesting post. TY Fran. I enjoyed your library youth stories. Very
cool. I can't recall going to a library as a kid. Hmmmm. My father had library in our home and was an avid reader of arts, history and literature. I mostly read adventure/expedition stories..like the classics Desert Solitaire, West with the Night, Annapurna, Arabian Sands, Farthest North..etc. But my fav pastime reading is National Geographic which I still receive in the mailbox.
I have recently acquired Desert Solitaire and West with the Night. The latter had a big impact on an author I interviewed who had a tough life in high school.
Well, for crying out loud! I don't know whether to tell you how I absolutely related to every single thing you talked about with great joy and wonder, or to be grumpy with you for totally ruining the small advancements I've been making on cutting down on all the book titles I add to my "list"...
I can see this calls for a real conversation, but for now, thank you, once again, for your words and the travels it takes me on in my mind. Always a joy.
And now that you've mentioned it, I was in Sandy at the the march, and I don't recall any media there, but it's Sandy. I'm appalled to learn that they weren't documenting Portland's gatherings. Perhaps they figure social media it doing that job.
I’ve revised the posting to reflect that The Oregonian did indeed run a front-page story. And it’s quite possible I missed the reporters. I didn’t see any news drones, which folks in other cities experienced.
Hi Fran, the Secret Garden was my first favorite book, then Half Magic, Charlotte's Web in 3rd grade and so many dog books. I love your phrase about protesting these days. Hitting a nail with a nerf hammer. In 1971 I was in Ohio at Kent State, heading for the protests and organizing the March on Washington. We were a tribe in those days. Thanks for your wonderful posts. Robin
Like your old stomping grounds, many of the buildings in my childhood home have disappeared under the bulldozer, including my old elementary and middle schools, both replace with design travesties that make me wonder HUH? Despite all the development that has erased Sugarhouse, my library is still standing, a beautiful yellow brick library with a long wooden desk across from the entrance. The children's library was downstairs.
Books, libraries, and free speech! Beautiful writing about these so-important parts of our lives that we often take for granted. Our neighborhood library in the late 1950s and early 1960s was the volunteer-run West Slope library located in a musty-smelling basement space down behind a buffet restaurant. Most of the books were probably donated. The library built a nice new space but I'll never forget the old one. My first favorites were the illustrated Wizard of Oz series.
Another interesting post. TY Fran. I enjoyed your library youth stories. Very
cool. I can't recall going to a library as a kid. Hmmmm. My father had library in our home and was an avid reader of arts, history and literature. I mostly read adventure/expedition stories..like the classics Desert Solitaire, West with the Night, Annapurna, Arabian Sands, Farthest North..etc. But my fav pastime reading is National Geographic which I still receive in the mailbox.
National Geographic! How cool.
I have recently acquired Desert Solitaire and West with the Night. The latter had a big impact on an author I interviewed who had a tough life in high school.
Well, for crying out loud! I don't know whether to tell you how I absolutely related to every single thing you talked about with great joy and wonder, or to be grumpy with you for totally ruining the small advancements I've been making on cutting down on all the book titles I add to my "list"...
I can see this calls for a real conversation, but for now, thank you, once again, for your words and the travels it takes me on in my mind. Always a joy.
And now that you've mentioned it, I was in Sandy at the the march, and I don't recall any media there, but it's Sandy. I'm appalled to learn that they weren't documenting Portland's gatherings. Perhaps they figure social media it doing that job.
I’ve revised the posting to reflect that The Oregonian did indeed run a front-page story. And it’s quite possible I missed the reporters. I didn’t see any news drones, which folks in other cities experienced.
Hi Fran, the Secret Garden was my first favorite book, then Half Magic, Charlotte's Web in 3rd grade and so many dog books. I love your phrase about protesting these days. Hitting a nail with a nerf hammer. In 1971 I was in Ohio at Kent State, heading for the protests and organizing the March on Washington. We were a tribe in those days. Thanks for your wonderful posts. Robin
My friend and Oregonian colleague Sue Hobart was at Kent State about the time you were Hobart is her married name.
The Secret Garden was my daughter Maggie’s favorite. I am very fond of the 1993 movie.
I’d forgotten about Half Magic!
:-)