the name of a book will come back to me from long ago childhood.
That happened to me this fall.
Taste of Spruce Gum . . .
The Taste of Sprucegum . . .
it doesn't matter -
that's enough to go on.
I don't remember the author or the name of the main character.
I just know it is about a little girl. I can still see the art work
in the book. I stop in at the library in our town and ask the
kind librarian if it's still available.
It is - but if it wasn't she could have looked further and requested
it from a neighboring library system. She requested it for me as
I rattled on about reading it a long time ago when we used to
go to the book mobile. She thought the book sounded delightful
and mourned with me that wonderful old books are being
weeded out of the library.
On those long ago summer days when the book mobile was coming
we hurried and scurried to wash the dishes
and make the beds
and weed four rows of carrots in the garden
(I'm just kidding)
then piled in our car and drove to Graceton.
The book mobile was parked in front of the little store/post office.
It was like an over sized bread truck or ice cream truck.
Gravel crunched under our feet as Mom and four daughters lined up
at the door. There was a step stool at the door. Step up - then a couple
more steps and we were in a book lined haven.
I don't know why I remember that book above many others.
The author is Jacqueline Jackson and even though I reread it in October
I am sad to say the little girl's name slips from my memory again.
But that's just me. People in my family accuse me of speed reading all
the time. It's probably true. When I finish a book many times I want to
start back at the beginning and read it again . . . a sure sign that a lot was
missed on the way through the first time.
Maybe the story stuck with me because it is set in a logging camp.
My dad was a logger in the wintertime when we lived up north.
We have lots of family memories of picnics in the woods,
heating water and food over many a camp fire,
and helping Dad during our spring break.
What books . . .
or libraries where you found the books
do you remember from long ago?
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