i heart libraries

a library is a place of solace, where the sound of fingers clicking on keys, the turning of a page in a newspaper, and the distant murmur of a study group are carried into the cavity of the building. you hear it all at muted decibels. coffee shops are a second favorite of mine- perhaps because i love the smell of coffee [acid reflux keeps me in tea] and being able to pretend that i am not completely eavesdropping on nearby conversations. but i so am. ;-)
when i go to a library, i take it all in: the musty smell, the sounds bouncing off the walls and floor, and the light carrying dust particles drifting in from the windows. i don't read the paper, or small-fonted, pictureless books, no no. you'll find me in the travel section, nose-deep in another country; in the cookbook section, wading for healthy alterations to traditional desserts [this year i'm making pumpkin crumble cake insteadof the cheesecake]; or in the art books, gazing at ansel adams. the seats haven't been replaced since the library's addition in the early '70s, so i think about the vinyl in my first car ['82 chevy impala, aka the mother ship] as i squnch down for a little reading. it is so peaceful, i might doze...