Crazy Happenings at the Library

Vitality Stories

My exam and other bizarre results

So today was the day: the day of my proctored New York Real Estate Exam. I’ve studied for the past several days (months if you count the required 75 hours of an online course that all but made me bonkers with cartoon lessons). This test has kept me from writing, from reading a good book, from doing nothing. I’m so happy to remove the idea of taking a test–something I haven’t done now for decades–from my energy field. Anyway, the exam required a proctor, and my proctor was the wonderful Mr. Tom at the Tompkins County Library in Ithaca, New York, and…I PASSED! Yahoo!

And then the most bizarre thing that has ever happened to me at a library happened, and it involves a novel I previously read and loved by Scott Wilbanks: The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster.

After the test, I got my new library card and started to search the fiction section. When I saw a copy of Scott’s book had made it all the way to little old Ithaca’s library, I decided to take a picture for him:

You can read the description of The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster here. What’s significant to know for the purpose of my rambling newsletter is that the story involves an exchange of letters. Letters that will change peoples’ lives forever.Now, back to the library.

Now, back to the library.

I decided to take a picture of the library label in the front of the book so Scott would know his book had spanned the country, and when I opened it…A SEALED, UNSTAMPED LETTER FELL OUT!!!!

lemoncholy life writing blurred to protect the unsuspecting

I all but flipped and freaked out! What was the letter doing in the book? Was it intentional? Did the sender mean to send it or did they forget about it and now they are horrified and tearing apart their home, looking for a letter they maybe should have or should not have written and lost?

And most importantly, what was I going to do about it (other than make Scott wait for me to write this newsletter about what happened while he sits on “pins and needles” in a coffee shop writing–sorry, Scott)?

Should I put a stamp on it and mail it? Should I put it in an envelope with a note and send it back to the return address?? What my responsibility to the letter writer?

Holy Toledo. I thought the exam was the big test of my day, but THIS, this responsibility…what was I to do?

Ultimately, I cracked under pressure and turned to my new friends at the reference desk. We talked it over and decided to look up who had checked out the novel and to add notes to the book’s profile about this serendipitous letter lost between the book’s pages. The library is mailing the letter back to the return address.

But what if Scott Wilbanks’ book inspired someone to reach out to someone from his/her past?? This, my friends, is the power of writers and books, and I think better than any review an author can hope for. I’m thinking Scott, or I, or we, need to write this person a letter, too.

Any crazy happenings in your world this week?

As always, thanks for being you!

Teri

P.S. Sorry for the typos, I’m still excited.

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4 thoughts on “Crazy Happenings at the Library”

Deborah Lucas June 22, 2017 at 2:51 pm

Two things come to mind. First, what to do with the letter. I’d watch these Hallmark mysteries about life in a dead letter office. They are amazing.

https://www.amazon.com/Ship-Theseus-J-Abrams/dp/0316201642/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1498167961&sr=1-1&keywords=jj+abrams

Secondly, are familiar with the amazing book in a book with notes & letters tucked into the pages, tracing the conversation between two people who hand this book back and forth. It’s written by J.J. Abrams, the Director of at least one of the new Star Trek movies.

https://www.amazon.com/Ship-Theseus-J-Abrams/dp/0316201642/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1498167961&sr=1-1&keywords=jj+abrams

Congratulations on passing the test. I can’t image taking one at my age. It’s been too long, although I used to love them.
Flora Brown June 22, 2017 at 5:16 pm

Hi Teri,

This article brings two things to mind.

1. Although I always send cards to my friends and family for major holidays, I decided to send more letters/notes in between the days they expect. So, I recently wrote several notes and bills, addressed and stamped them and sent them off. About a week letter, I got a response from a childhood friend trying to understand why I had sent her an empty envelope. I can imagine she was alarmed, perhaps thinking my mind had snapped. She asked the postmaster what to do, and because she didn’t have my phone number, she just returned the empty envelope as evidence.

I questioned my sanity for a moment too, but decided to write a note, try to explain I was doing lots of correspondence that day, and send off a freshly addressed envelope with the note AND my phone number enclosed. I’m waiting for her relieved response.

2. Your discovery of the letter in the book reminded me of a book called Found. Have you heard of it?
The author collected random notes, discarded cards, etc. giving us glimpses in other people’s lives? It’s fascinating ==>https://www.amazon.com/Found-Tossed-Forgotten-Items-Around/dp/0743251148
Teri Case Post authorJune 23, 2017 at 11:28 am

Flora, what a good story. Thank you for sharing it. And I’m adding FOUND to my wishlist now, or who knows, maybe it’s at the library. I think I might start leaving notes in my library books 🙂

Thanks for being you,

Teri
Teri Case Post authorJune 23, 2017 at 11:31 am

Thanks for sharing these examples, Deborah Ann.

Letters play a significant role in Tiger Drive as well. The power of words 🙂

Thanks for being you!