Memorable Moments at the Circulation Desk

On an unusually quiet evening at the Lynnwood Library, David Wagoner, the acclaimed Northwest poet and University of Washington professor came up to the desk and said he needed to use a PC because his computer was out of order. "Professor Wagoner," I said, soon after recognizing him, "I'm so surprised and pleased to see you." We spoke briefly about Dorothee Bowie, who was assistant to the chairman but actually ran the English Department (I lived with the Bowie family when I was a foreign student), and about his recent nomination for a Pulitzer Prize.
It's rare to have someone whose writing I admire approach me at the Circulation Desk. I almost forgot the simple procedure involved in issuing a temporary computer pass.


At another time, a library patron in Mukilteo handed me a book that she wanted to check out. It was Alan Paton's Cry the Beloved Country, which became popular the minute it became an Oprah book selection. "This is really good," I said to her, "I still remember the opening lines."
Inspired by the moment, I began: "There's a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it."
The woman quickly turned the pages of the book looking for the first paragraph. Satisfied that my quotation was true, she smiled. It was an "Aha!" moment for her. And for me, it was instant validation that I had not yet lapsed into early Alzheimer's.