Published in The Fauquier Times-Democrat Weekend Edition, 09/30/2011
September 30th was the last day of National Library Month. How did I miss mentioning that all month long? I have it on good authority, however, that you are still allowed to visit your local library, and your card will work, even after September ends. I have a little sad and selfish news in regard to what (rather, “who”) will not work at our library very soon, though.
Last night, I popped into our local Warrenton branch and was met with that unmistakable English greeting, “Oh, hallo, Love!” If you’ve visited there any time in the past 25 years, you know exactly which librarian I’m speaking of. She’s tall and slender and striking. (“Tall” is a relative term for me. As far as I’m concerned, if you’ve crossed 5’3”, you’re tall.)
In just two weeks, Jenny Lyons is no longer going to be there to greet and help us. This is in no way meant to demean or dismiss any of her colleagues, all of whom are wonderful ladies who always offer a smile and some help. (Correct me if I’m wrong, but I haven’t seen any men working there.) If you thought the library was the place to be hushing and shushing yourself, you have been deprived. You need to engage one of these ladies in a conversation.
In today’s highly mobile society, it is amazing to find someone who has not only lived in the same area, but also worked in the same place, for a quarter of a century. I didn’t get the full history last night, but horses and English saddles brought her to this area from England. Stop being goofy. I never implied that she rode on a horse here all the way from the seat of the British Empire. Seriously, your humor is getting down to the elementary school cafeteria level. Regardless, we’ve established that she has been here and been faithfully and cheerfully serving at the library all these years.
But now, Jenny has got some silly notion of retiring into her head. She says it’s time to let someone new have a chance.
Someone new? Someone new? What if this someone new doesn’t greet me as if I were the most special person to have walked through the doors all day? It may be too late to forward this urgent note to the Director, but I think she should carefully consider a few things before bringing in a new hire. Is there some way Maria Del Rosso could sneak in a question or two onto the employment application form?
Applicant takes tea in the:
a) morning b) midmorning c) noon d) mid-afternoon e) at tea time f) just before bed g) all of the above.
Two weeks is (someone will gleefully correct me to say “Two weeks are” but I’m treating this as one unit, so ha!):
a) the time between paychecks b) a fortnight c) annual vacation time for most working adults, except those who live in Europe and Asia, where two weeks is only sufficient time off of work to begin planning the other six weeks of actual vacation time
A boot is:
a) something you put on your foot b) something you wish you could apply to your child’s rump on occasion, when they can’t seem to get moving c) what the colonists refer to as “the trunk” of their awful motor vehicles
Okay, I can see where these might get sticky. But you get my meaning. Also, could they have the new librarian practice that wonderful greeting and try to exude love to everyone around?
Here’s a little secret: I didn’t even know her name until yesterday. She confessed she didn’t know mine, either. She calls everyone “Love” or “My Dear.” All these years, we have been greeting and gushing over each other like old schoolmates. Don’t get me wrong; I do know lots of our librarians by name, even though trying to subtly hone in on their nametags dangling down at the end of the chain makes you feel a little uncouth.
It’s going to be hard to have someone fill Jenny Lyons’ shoes. What will hers be doing? A “spot” of traveling now and then, and she’s also thinking of helping with rescued dogs in her corner of Fauquier County. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s going to be some reading in there too. Librarians do seem to be addicted to books. Hopefully, she will wander back into our branch now and then to feed her habit.
Jenny, we’ll miss you and your wonderful smile, but we wish you all the best in your retirement. Cheerio!
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