Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.
Charles W. Eliot
I am ashamed to admit how long it has been since I have been to the library. It has been over a year…which is basically nerd blasphemy.
I have one vague recollection of wandering through the stacks with Lee strapped to my chest asleep, running my fingers along the spines of the books and walking out empty-handed. Before that, it had been months. After that, it was many more.
I will generally take a good book over a good conversation. I will pick reading over doing a great many things. I am a bookworm by nature and it cannot be helped. So, naturally, I love the library. I always have. It was one of the first things we found in new neighborhoods after moving. It was my beloved refuge. I spent a great many summer afternoon, huddled between walls of books that seemed a mile-high, paperback in hand; many quite winter evening as well. I can remember how each library in each city I have ever lived smelled. I still get a happy, nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach when I pull my freshly acquired library books out of my bag one by one and stack them up like a delicious, glossy tower.
And yet… I had never taken Liam to the library- to my library.
It was a shame. It needed to be remedied.
This morning, we made it happen. It was quite chilly but we braved the “coooold wea-der” (according to Liam) and walked to the local library.
And it was awesome.
I have watched Ryan and Liam share so many sweet moments together over common interests. Liam has reached that magical age (that will last for so many years yet) in which he genuinely loves what his Papa loves, simply because his Papa loves it… and his Papa is the coolest guy in the entire universe. My interests have always been more abstract, more solitary… even those closest to me have a hard time defining what it is I love. And that is understandable. It took me a long time to figure it out myself, to be perfectly honest.
However, this place… is something I can share with my son.
Welcome to my world, Liam Eliot.
I am so glad you could come.
