As I write this, I am sitting outside on my front stoop near midnight, waiting for Brigid and her friend Dylan to return from parking Brigid's truck. I'm out here because I'm watching four boxes of books and some rather good artwork. We're going to take it inside and sort through everything as soon as they return.
Where did we get these treasures? Well, that's a sad kind of story. There was a Craigslist posting about boxes upon boxes of books tossed out on the curb, free for the taking, and, shirking all responsibility, we decided to go. Who would turn down free books?
But when we got there, it was more than just books. Someone had lost their house, and everything they had was piled on the curb with a sign reading "Free, take all you want." It was not the fun adventure we'd planned, but we were glad we went. We managed to rescue four boxes of books, and a lot of artwork done by one of the people who had been living there. These things hold memories, and we've saved them from ruin.
Most of the books, of course, are going to a place where we know they'll find love. The Shimer take-a-book, leave-a-book shelf has been so lonely, after all. We are a community of people who love books, and so these books will be in good hands. They will be loved.
After we sort through the art to toss out what's gotten moldy, we'll start finding homes. We know plenty of people with apartments that need things to liven up their walls. This artwork, which someone put so much effort into creating, will be appreciated.
And so I'm glad we went. It's terrible that something like that happened to someone, but we've saved what we could, and we're going to make sure it all finds its way into a new loving home. I just wish there was some way we could tell those poor people. It's not going to waste, it's not being thrown out... it's being adopted into new families. We may never know the memories attached to anything we saved, but they will gain new memories. And that, at least, is something to appreciate.
I am a book collector so I know the value of a good book. brilliant story.
Posted by: Danielle | October 02, 2009 at 01:39 PM
Wow! You show a genuine appreciation for life. I think that your efforts to save the art (memories) is a reminder that humanity is not doomed.
Posted by: Pam Renovato | October 14, 2009 at 08:50 PM
Unfortunately a lot of people had to start over recently. I am glad that you were able to rescue and give new homew to some of the items.
Posted by: Wayne A | October 15, 2009 at 12:47 PM
It is sad to know that people can lose overnight everything they collected with passion. It is good to know you did a responsible act and took most of the books, to a place where they'll find love.
Posted by: Sandra | December 01, 2009 at 08:17 AM
WOW that really was a great act of kindness.
Posted by: Lucas Coggan | September 05, 2012 at 10:39 PM
It is sad to know that people can lose overnight everything they collected with passion. It is good to know you did a responsible act and took most of the books, to a place where they'll find love.
Posted by: Chattantaonline.blogspot.com | December 19, 2012 at 09:04 PM