Ups and downs

Being in Mesa, Arizona in January is just about the most wonderful thing I could imagine. One beautiful, sunny day after another leaves little to complain about.

In fact, I can only think of one teensy complaint. But it's a daily source of frustration.

Of course, I brought my own computer and its associated gadgets from home. But to get online, I need to come to the park's library where there is Wi-Fi. Now this is a delightful and short three-block walk and a great reason to just be out and about.

The library is quiet, cozy and comfortable. It has excellent high-speed internet access with computers and a printer available for common use, as well as space to sit and electrical outlets if you bring your own equipment.


So, the problem?

I feel completely disconnected from life.

You know how it is. When you want to send an email, you want to do it NOW. When you want to look something up, you want to do it NOW. When you want the weather forecast? The news? A price on something? Yup. NOW.

Hopefully, I will find a remedy soon to get wireless connection in our little mobile home. Thinking my techie grandchildren can help me with this, I'll place an SOS call to them. And you'll hear from me on Cranberry Tree more often.

Now that could be good or bad...

I have a job

That didn't take long, did it?

One visit to the Chisago Lakes Area library and a brief chat with Carla, the librarian, and the deal was cinched. I am now the "Used Book Coordinator" (a title I gave myself).

My duties entail reviewing all donated used books for condition and appropriateness, categorizing and shelving them in a room for this purpose in the library office, deciding which books to display for sale in the library (a function of the Friends of the Library with proceeds benefiting the local library) and which books to transfer to Family Pathways (to sell in their used book store, proceeds benefiting community members in need), and which books should simply be discarded. Can you just sense the power in all this decision-making?

This opportunity appealed to me for several reasons: (1) it is a big project, has been neglected and is very disorganized (yes, that appeals to me); (2) I can pretty much do what I want with it; (3) I can work whenever I choose, with no schedule; (4) my organizational skills and neurotic tendencies might just be appreciated here; and (5) best of all, I get first dibs on buying the donated books that come in.

So last week I reported to work. This is what the room looked like when I walked in:


Quite a mess, huh? Just let me at it!