Like the quote says, when in doubt go to the library

A couple days after my last post (where I’d just returned from a week at my sisters, and lamented I needed to make some changes in my life) I decided to take Joyce & Kim’s advice (2 of the very kind people who commented on that post) and went to my local library and applied for a card—and here it is.

I wasn’t looking to do more reading, but after checking out Avalon Library’s Monthly Event calendar they post locally, noticed they have a few events I might be interested in: a history book club, a mystery book club, and ‘Arthouse Cinema’ matinees on Friday & Saturdays, twice a month. 

The library was only 2 1/2 blocks from my apartment, with a babbling brook and koi pond in front, and several bronze statues of kids at play.  I was greeted inside by 2 librarians, Sharon & Heather who couldn’t have been nicer.

I asked about applying for a library card and said I was retired, lived alone and was thinking about joining one of their clubs.  (I didn’t tell them I wrestle with some social anxiety disorder.  I mean, I can mingle if I have to, but I’m a lot more comfortable when I’m alone or with just one person.)

As Sharon was filling out my paperwork, she looked at me and said “You look very familiar… have we met before?”  I assured her it was our first time meeting, I’d never been here before.  She turned back to her computer monitor and said “I know I know you.”   I said “Well.. I was winner of the 1978 Literary Award.” 

Arrgh!  Why do I do this?

Now Heather (the library’s administrator) came around the desk.  She said “Do tell!”  I laughed and said it was nothing really, but asked if she’d ever heard of the Bowlby Library.  Heather said “Yes!  We’ve exchanged books with them—it’s in a little town south of us, Waynesburg Pa.”  

I said I was born & raised there, and probably spent half my childhood at that library.  When I was in the 11th grade, the library selected one student from the surrounding high schools and presented us with an award at a formal banquet.  A month later, I even got a letter of congratulations from my congressman.

Heather said “Well, we have a celebrity here!”  Sharon said “I hoped you saved that letter!”  I said “Well it’s ancient history but I was just looking at it last night.. um, I have it in my Google Photos if you want to take a look.”   I pulled out my phone and showed it to them. 

They were very kind and acted like this was a big deal.  (It really wasn’t, even when I got it 45 years ago.)  Sharon said “Doug, would you like to apply for an opening we have here?” I said “You mean like a volunteer?”  She said “No, we already have volunteers.  This is for a library clerk like myself, 25 hours a week, $9.00 an hour.”

I said thank you for the invite, but I was retired.  Sharon said “Well I’m retired too, but here I am!”

I know it sounds like a good idea and all, and my declining makes me sound lazy, but here’s the facts.  This wouldn’t be extra income for me.  At the start of the year, I tell Pennie—my state’s health insurance agency—what my income will be for the year, within $500 or so.  For 2023 my guesstimate was around $30,000.  Based on that, my monthly health insurance premium of $883.79 is reduced to $152.00.

(And yes, an insurance plan for a pre-Medicare sixtysomething male in my state is $885.00 a month, and that’s just for a silver level plan.)

Any money I earn over my reported estimate (which I’ve already withdrawn from my retirement fund in January, like I do every year) would just raise my monthly insurance premium.  So… I’ll pass.  Also, I AM lazy. But still, their offer made my day.

Now if I can just work up the nerve to check out one of those clubs… we’ll see.