I love books, I’ve always loved to read and the library has had a place in my life since I first picked up a book in elementary school. When we moved into a new subdivision where there was no public library, we had the “Bookmobile” that would come around. The Bookmobile parked at our school parking lot and I would be so excited to run to it, climb up the stairs into the tiny corridor (it had stairs inside too) that just smelled of books, all those paperbacks.
I went through all the Nancy Drew books, some of the Hardy Boys and Bobbsey Twins; then Harriet the Spy; as I got older, the Judy Blume books, Flowers in the Attic, Harlequin romances when I was 13 (yes such realistic portrayals of love LOL)… When a public library opened in the local mall across the street from my high school, I went there regularly for research but also to pick up great fiction. At that time I also began to realize how much the library was about community, with its bulletin board with community events, job postings. I posted a piece of paper offering piano lessons at my home with my phone number as tear offs and did find some students that way. After high school, I was focused on academic reading so the university libraries were where I hung out, not so much frequenting the public library.
I rediscovered borrowing books once I started full time work. Although by then I could afford to buy books, and Indigo is just such a pretty lifestyle store.
We moved into this neighbourhood when I was expecting our son. The local public library became the best place for us when the kids were young – what a great gathering space with children’s programs, librarians who read to kids, play rooms, community events so young mothers could meet other young mothers. And children could read books, play computer games and start learning how to research. All for free!
I remember the kids being so excited to go to the library. Parking in the underground, plopping my daughter into her stroller and making our way over to the convenient elevator that took us up into the modern building with so many windows letting in bright light.
If the kidlets wanted some computer time, I would get some of the recent issues of magazines, and let them play. A bit of mommy time, keeping half an eye on them while I flipped through the glossy pages of House and Home, Bon Appetit, Elle, Vogue, Vanity Fair and the occasional People Magazine. Later on a small cafe opened on the main floor, so when you entered you could smell the delicious aroma of coffee and vanilla hot chocolate, my daughter’s favourite as a tween. By that time, we would be going to the library to pick up DVDs for family movie night, and I would get the latest CDs to listen to in the car or at home. Memories of my time as a stay-at-home mom, a treasured time for me, a big part of my story.
With the advent of audio books, e-books, and movies that we can now borrow online through library apps, and with the kids getting into high school and then off to university, there was no need to frequent the library. Certainly less so during the pandemic – but I still borrowed hard copy books, putting them on hold, and selecting convenient times for pick up at scheduled slots. Reading was super helpful during Covid times.
Now that I have more free time, (again), I seem to be putting more books on hold than ever, I can barely keep up. I went a couple of days ago to return a book. I noticed all the new offerings of programs for adults and children, writers’ residence, books clubs, job search groups … you can even borrow tools and baking pans (!) … so much community lives in this space. The cafe has re-opened and they are still serving those white hot chocolates, with sandwiches and muffins now too. This wonderful feeling of comfort and nostalgia washed over me as I walked by the children’s area. Those were halcyon days.
It’s so lovely to know that there’s a place to go to experience that feeling again.
Do you visit your local library?
(A sculpture of Girl with a Book, at our local library)
At a time 
National Fast Food Day
Wow I can’t believe I missed it!
What is your favourite fast food?
At my age I try not to indulge too often, but I can’t say no to an Egg McMuffin from Mc Donalds – that and a medium black coffee are my go-to. And I’m not gonna lie, if there are fries at the bottom of the bag I will eat them. This is a family affair though; I don’t eat breakfast as a rule, and it’s usually part of a family order that my husband and daughter grab on a Friday after he’s picked her up from the bus station for a weekend home from school.
I do love a good burger every so often, but I don’t eat the big chain ones. There’s a local place we get from called Fresh Burger which we will order as a treat. It was started by a local fellow with roots in the financial industry. I remember going there in early days, it was just him and his wife and his teenage kids occasionally. They’ve now got almost a dozen locations. What a success story. And the burgers are very tasty and affordable.
We are also big pizza lovers but alas, I have had to cut down on that a lot. I’m trying to ease up on the carbs, diabetes runs in the family so I’m afraid my risk of developing it myself gets higher every day. I’m not a sweets person (I prefer savoury), but at my last physical I was told to watch the sweets.
It’s all in the diet, folks. Yup, I’m talking like an old person.
I suppose with Uber Eats anything can be fast food these days. So fast food is getting expensive. As my kids are now more aware of the cost of things, like food, they’re not indulging as much anymore either. Well, unless Mom or Dad are in the car for a quick drive through!
Tim Horton’s anyone?