Library Goddess

One of my alter egos is that of Library Goddess. I work at the Huntley Area Public Library, in Huntley Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago by thirty miles, but still, of course, considered the Chicago area.

I've been there for nine happy years, and am still amazed by my good fortune at finding my dream job, years ago, in my mid-fifties, when I almost had given up hope that there could exist such a job.

My lifelong love of books and movies and popular culture (TV) is "cashed in" and stimulated every day there....I purchase the adult fiction books, adult fiction on audio, adult DVDs--feature films and TV series. I help to promote interest in and guidance to books and movies our patrons may want to see, and help out at the Reference desk, where my greatest joy is something called "Readers Advisory", which really means helping someone find another book they might enjoy, another author or new title, or more of the same author they have enjoyed in the past.

It's a delicous combination of conversation and immersion among the book-lined shevles and movie-filled displays, teeming with the friendly variety of patrons who come through our doors--from the littlest infants napping in their strollers, to the liveliest "senior" enjoying a look at the day's newspaper by the fireplace.

We have a large contigent of seniors, who live in Huntley Sun City, an age-specific, resort-like area of new homes built in the last ten years. This combines with a large number of families with young children, who have also been purchasing new homes within the last ten years.

It's a going, growing community, and our library reflects that growth with sometimes creative solutions to the needing-more-space situation.

Come by and say "Hello" when you're in the neighborhood!

CHECK US OUT!

SENIOR LATE BLOOMER

I have been a "late bloomer" all my life, so why should I change during this, my senior years of reign? To explain that "reign" part--I am a Senior Goddess Supreme (a special, selft-appointed title, with all the attendant powers I feel like adding). ANYWAY, this late blooming pattern is not necessarily a bad idea. Let your friends try out new territories of life, and report back to you before you attempt such changes.

I dated later in teen years, since I was overweight from birth to mide-teens. I found out what sex REALLY was at 15 (I went to Catholic schools, and while they told you to confess your sins carefully, they never really divulged the many ways you COULD sin)...I did not get this sex information by experience, just by asking my mother one day when she was cooking dinner--I could tell she was less than thrilled to be delivering this momentous news to me. So that helped my general outlook on the dating game, and the male species.

I married in my later twenties, had my first baby at 30 (this was forty years ago, when people were still marrying right after high school), tried many careers horribly wrong for me before finding my ideal job in my mid-fifties.

I had my first home all to myself in my early 60s, finally lost my excess "baby fat" at 63, when I had gastric bypass surgery, and lost 100 pounds. I'm having my first grandchild at the ripe young age of 66, and just feel that every day is another "first", another reason to bloom.

The late blooming flowers are showing off right now around my midwestern world, as mid-September near-frosts are dipping in and out. The flowers look even more beautiful in the clear autumn light, glorying in their day in the sun, even as they know that these sunny days are limited. It's that very limitation that gives extra loveliness to their brave flamboyance.

I will bloom as late as I can, and celebrate the joy of so many "firsts" that will illuminate my lifetime--no matter what it's length.

THE INACTIVE LIFESTYLE--TIP #1

I really want to help all of you out there who feel that you MUST maintain an active lifestyle to stay young(ish) and healthy. I am here to advise you that you do have another, much more pleasant choice: THE INACTIVE LIFESTYLE

It does require a careful commitment--I have honed my inactive skills for years, so it may not happen as quickly as you would wish (that's the old peppy active thinking which is sabotaging your efforts). If you slowly ease yourself into inactivity, you will soon reap the rewards.

I will gradually divulge all the best tips for your "conversion", and you need only to practice them---just beward of those old active pitfalls and lively way of thinking that you suffered through before this breakthrough.

TIP#1 NEVER MOVE WHEN YOU CAN SIT.

This has so many applications through your day, not matter what your age or occupation. Check yourself before using muscles which would prefer not to flex, or be exerted. Relaxing, isn't it?

You are on your way!