Memories Are Made of This: So Many Books, So Little Time

I've often seen a bumper sticker that says "If you can read this, thank a teacher." I definitely want to thank my teachers. From the moment I learned how to read, I have never been without at least one book on my nightstand that I am currently reading. Reading is one of my most favorite pastimes.

Growing up in Shelby, one of the highlights of the week was going to the public library. Mom got a library card for me as soon as she realized how much I looked forward to our Saturday morning visits to the library. Unlike today's library visists, at that time we were limited to checking out 6 books. I would peruse the shelves, choose my 6 books....usually "Madeline" books, Dr. Suess books, or books about cats. As I got a little older, The Boxcar Children became my best imaginary friends. I was amazed by those stories!
Anyway, we would go home and I'd proudly show Daddy my 6 books. I would look at their covers and stack and restack them. Then I would finally decide to crack one open and begin reading it. After that moment, I was doomed! I would whiz through all 6 books usually before time to wash and roll my hair and lay out my clothes for church the next morning. It was a bittersweet time as I was enamored by the books, but I knew I'd have to wait all the way until the next Saturday before I could go to the library to get more books! So I would re-read them. I would read them aloud to my dolls. I would sit on the floor and flip through the pages and read them silently to myself. I would play "school" and read them to my imaginary students. I would then put on my pjs, kiss everyone goodnight, get in my bed, say my prayers, and pick up my books and read them again in the dim light shed by my trusty nightlight. By the end of the week, I would have practically memorized each book!

I guess I wasn't the only one in the family who liked books. While I was recently at mom's snapping photographs, I had to take a picture of her floor-to-ceiling bookcases in the family room. Those shelves are packed with books.....and memories! I never fail to look at the books and pull a few off the shelves each time I visit. Through the years the collection of books has ebbed and flowed. I will take some off the shelves from time to time and bring them to Florida. I know my son, Joseph, pilfers a few tomes each time he goes to see Grandma! Joseph is an avid reader and sometimes he reads stuff I just can't understand. His mind is a sponge and he loves to soak up all sorts of information. I suppose that is why there are so many different types of books published.
Mom's bookshelves house current novels by John Grishom, James Patterson, and Nicholas Sparks. There are several biographies, as that is what Mom enjoys reading most. Plenty of poetry books, both old and newer are on those shelves. We always laugh when we see the big, heavy medical books on Urology! Homer added those to the collection. Seeing them on the shelf makes me smile as I think of Homer and what a wonderful addition to our family he was for 13 short years. His stories, many prompted by his study of Urology, often had us practically rolling in the floor!
Mom's bookshelves also are home to little "gift" books as I call them. These are books about Moms, Grandmoms, Best Friends, special Dads, or Inspirational Quotes. We all enjoy giving and receiving those books from time to time.
There are books about history, in particular World War II. Both Daddy and Homer were fans of those books.
On the shelves is the complete set of Nancy Drew Mysteries. Martha read (and re-read) each of the books in this series. She was completely enamored by Nancy Drew. I never got the attraction, as I was more interested in books like "Nurses Who Led the Way" or as I mentioned, "The Boxcar Children."
One whole shelf is filled with the complete "World Book Encyclopedia." I think they were purchased in 1962. It was an investment in the education of Martha and me. I know they were expensive, but Mom and Dad put a lot of emphasis on a good education. They wanted us to have what we needed to ensure that. One day I'm going to flip through those encyclopedia volumes and see how much the information seems to be outdated! Those encyclopedias will be a collector's item one day.
There are many books about Christianity on the shelves. Daddy wanted to make sure we all knew about Jesus and His love for us. Those books definitely impacted my life and helped me with choices throughout my lifetime.

I couldn't help but spot a small metal box in the corner of one of the shelves. It immediately sent a flood of memories through me. That box has been in our family since before I was born! The box was a set of very thin paperback pamphlet-like books that were educational in nature. Each book was on a specific topic. I remember reading those books many many times! Martha and I loved to use them to play "school" or "library." I think my aunt Jessie purchased them for her son, Tony. Tony is 16 years older than me and his things were often passed down to Martha and myself.
I spent a long time going through this box. I was amazed at how clean and neat the books were, considering how many people had used the books over and over again. They didn't have any marks in them except a few where Martha decided to write her name on the front of some of them. She also crossed through any of the ones that had Tony's name and then put her own name next to it. There were just a few marks in the "Pioneering in Aviation" book. I guess we will have to blame that one on Tony!
The little books were each called "Little Wonder Book." They were numbered, although the numbers and order seemed to have no logic.
The copyright dates in these books caught my attention. The oldest were copyrighted in 1934. Those were entitled "Coal" and "Navajo Indians." I guess I can understand why those two might be the oldest in the set. Most of the rest were copyrighted in 1946 with the exception of "Insects," which had a copyright date of 1948. I remember it was one of my favorites. I loved looking at the pictures of the praying mantis, bee, butterfly and caterpillar.
One book, "Our Transportation" had a couple of pages that were cut up. Obviously, someone needed a picture for a school report or something!
The "Pioneering in Communication" book begins with the chapter entitled "Bob Breaks a Record." It is about being able to SEE something in a newsreel! I'm sure the author of that book would be blown away by our means of communication today! That could take up several blogposts at another time!

And the best is always saved for last. As I was about to pack up the little metal box full of Wonder Books, I saw stuck in the back of it some pamphlets. I had to sit down and stifle some little snickers, even though I was in the house alone. I found the information that Martha and I each received in 6th grade as we were taken into the auditorium WITHOUT BOYS to learn about the birds and the bees! Martha's booklets were called "You're a Young Lady Now" and "Very Personally Yours." I received more booklets and mine were entitled "Growing Up and Liking It," "Getting to Know Yourself," "It's Time You Knew," and "Accent on You..." I guess 4 years is a lot of time and our progressive thinking was easing it's way into the Women's Liberation Movement!
Today's youth learn about the birds and the bees before 6th grade, and I'm pretty sure they don't separate the boys and girls any more!

There are truly so many books, and so little time. One of the best things about books is that they are there for us to read, re-read and pass down through the generations. Memories, and remembrances, are made of this.