R.S., Bryn Mawr

I am a senior whose love affair with libraries began at the James Pendergrass Free Library in Jamestown, NY. This romance started with a half mile walk through the snow on Saturday morning for the story hour. I would get there about an hour early so that I could look at dinosaur books by Roy Chapman and bird books by Roger Tory Peterson. I remember reading Tomahawk for Trouble by William O. Steele.

Years ago on a trip to Ludington, I went in to select some DVD’s, audiotapes and books for the next week. I will take a few just to enjoy casually or browse others if I think I would like to read them. I came across a large book about Walker Evans, the world-famous photographer. When I looked more closely through the Walker Evans book, I came across three negatives. I also found in the pages, a homemade birthday card made by Diane. Her address was on the back. I called her and explained what I had found and she said that she hadn’t been to the Ludington Library in a long time. Then she remembered, “I know who owns those negatives.”

I took them over to Diane’s home and we started talking. Four hours later, we were still talking. We became boded for life. What a great way to spend a cold February day: making a new friend! I still love the library and visit twice a week. I never know what might happen.