Thursday, April 10

Up at 7 a.m. on this gloriously sunny, warm morning, so that I could get ready to go the college where I swim to help set up the book sale, and Hubbie could get ready to go to a monthly Master Gardener meeting. Mother opted to stay home today.

I arrived at the college shortly before 9 a.m. A couple of library staff members were already busy putting books out on tables, but there was a lot left to do. Soon, the literacy council director, and a couple of students, joined us, and we set up about an dozen tables of books. I had to restrain myself from browsing interesting looking volumes as I went along.

Some students began browsing the books as we lined them up on the tables. One middle eastern young man selected the novel, "Shogun," that I'd donated to the cause. I think he'll enjoy it as much as I did. I'd had the book in my library for years, thinking I might someday read it again, but decided I never would. There are too many other books I haven't read yet.

I spent two and half hours helping with the project, despite my out-of-commission right thumb. Around 11:30, I decided I needed to return home to fix lunch for Mother. I ended up buying four books before I left. The darn things are irresistible!

Back home, I accompanied Mother to our house, then fixed a lunch of soup for her, and sandwiches for Hubbie and me. Then Hubbie and I ran a few errands...to the bank, to the post office, to the newspaper office, and to the WDCS for a few groceries.

Relaxed after that until time to go back to the college for a champagne punch reception honoring the Friends of the Library volunteers. It was at 5 p.m., so before we left, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house. I sent a hot dog and leftover macaroni and cheese with her, which she heated in the microwave for her supper.

We arrived at the library a few minutes early, so naturally we browsed the books. Hubbie found one he wanted, and I picked up two more (slap my hands). Then we went to what is called the Tornado Cross Garden. It is a small outdoor quad area surrounded by the walls of the library. It's called the Tornado Cross Garden, because it features a large metal cross mounted in marble, the only thing preserved from the college chapel after a 1973 tornado ripped through town.

This is a pleasant, quiet area, with a soothing water feature, concrete benches on white gravel, and plants of various kinds in gardens around the edge of the area.

The reception included light refreshments, along with the punch...not enough for a meal, of course. We visited for about an hour, then went to a fast food restaurant for a supper of a hamburger for Hubbie, and grilled chicken sandwich for me.

Back home around 6:30, we fetched Mother and then went to the college down the road for a concert by an African children's choir, sponsored by a local church. The choir is on tour for six months in the U.S. from a orphanage village in Africa. Their purpose, of course, is to ask for sponsorships, and also to gather donations from the audience. The performance was otherwise free.

This is a very talented group, whose music, singing, dancing, and drumming, performed in colorful costumes, is infectious. Part of the performance was the testimonials of the children, whose backgrounds were terrible until they were taken to the orphanage. Statistics on child abandonment, war, and disease on the African continent, as shown in a slide show, are staggering.

We were back home around 9 p.m. Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then he and I watched a on-hour show on TV, and headed to bed. Busy, but satisfying day.