A Library, A Photograph, A Memory

I live in Wake Forest, NC now….

Thanks to Eileen (my brother Dennis’s wife)

the keeper of the histories, this photo

comes to me today. A throwback to 1971, my dad planning

his books, a loving look (did I take this photo??) at the past

as I consider my future.

Dad was so happy in his library but please don’t interrupt him

while he’s writing. The phone was constantly ringing, but Mom

kept that answered juggling the business and the home life with

a lot of perseverance, staying up very very late to get all the work done

and then rising very very early to get everything started all over again.

I was dating Wes when this photo was taken, and I’m half-thinking

Dad hired Wes to add to his book shelving in the library because

for no reason at all this scene came to me.

Eileen found

the old photo, and now I can picture the globe on Dad’s desk, the blinds,

the typewriter, and since Wes had just asked me to marry him in

May of 1971 when this photo was taken, I’m sure

the scene is forever imprinted on my mind.

Dad called me into

the library that lovely May day

in 1971 to tell me I was too young to think about marriage.

Maybe we had just had the little “difference of opinion” and that

explains the funny look Dad has on his face….