Thursday, March 22, 2012

My First True Love

As I'm sure that you aware of the fact that I'm a public librarian. This is the perfect job for me because books were my first true love. Yes, being a librarian is more than checking out books and fixing shelves but there's something about walking into a building full of books that makes my heart smile!


My love affair with books began when I was a small child living on the southside of Tucson. The elementary school that I attended was called a "Back to Basics" school which just meant we had a ridiculous amount of homework to do each night (I'm kidding!). The librarian at my school had the coolest name (Mrs. Finklestein) and she was the most amazing storyteller! She also had a knack for introducing you to books that she knew you would like but never pick out for yourself. Often times, I would just walk up to her and say "Can you give me a good book?" and she never let me down. Mrs. Finklestein encouraged us to improve our reading skills and step outside of our comfort zones. I remember the time she handed me The Neverending Story and told me not to be afraid of how big it was (I was in the 3rd grade). I plowed through it and it is one of my favorite books to this day.

I remember the first time my dad took me to the public library. We walked in and he said to me, "All of these books are free. You get to take any of them home that you want." That was amazing to me. I didn't know there was a place, outside of my school library, that allowed you to take books home for free! My dad and I would go on "dates" the library and I loved spending that time with him.

 As I grew older, I would still hide away with a good book. I often found myself longing for a quiet space and a book instead of hanging out with my friends. It never seemed strange to me that I was able to relate to the characters in books more than I was able to relate to the people around me.

 


As a mom, I have worked really hard at encouraging The Princess to fall in love with books. I began reading to her while she was still in the womb and I swear she loved hearing Dr. Seuss and the Berenstain Bears. Before she could read, I would read her a story of her choosing every night before bed. These times were a chance for us to explore & experience a new world through a book together. Once she began learning to read, we switched roles and she would read to me each night. Now that The Princess is older, she doesn't always want to sit and read to me and that's ok. I'm just happy that those times when the television is off and the house is dead silent, I can find her in her room reading her newest library book.


Here's a funny fact - I didn't grow up wanting to be a librarian. When I graduated from high school, I wanted to be a police officer and eventually an agent with the FBI. With these goals in mind, I studied Criminal Justice and Sociology and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in both. It's funny how things change and when you walk a certain path, you realize that the destination in front of you is not where you should be. 


I still get giddy at the sight of books despite working amongst them every day. When I visited the Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, I was in awe of their collection. It seemed like there were books as far as the eye could see (I'm exaggerating a bit but it was that awesome!). This branch was the type of library branch I pictured myself working at - it was a bookworm's heaven :)



So, now you know. Books were my first true love, followed by Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Willis (Hey, I was young! Don't judge me!). I'd like to leave you with a quote that I truly describes how I feel about books.

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends;
they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors,
and the most patient of teachers."
~Charles William Eliot~


17 comments:

  1. I love this post! Books are amazing, I am thankful I have two kids that love to read too! Um... why did I not know you and my Bonjovi had a love thing going on? I have been in love with Jon Bon since I can remember... he was my first love ;)

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    1. I love that you & your kids love books!!! Go bookworms!! And Jon Bon Jovi was my everything! LOL!!

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  2. ohhh i love to read! it is probably one of my favorite past times and if I could have any job in the world i would be an editor!!!

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  3. I love this post. I love libraries too but every time I enter one, I have to run to the bathroom! Never fails!
    My kids love the library too & we go there on the weekends to browse & read. They know where their favorite sections are. I brings joy to my heart!

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    1. I love when you post on fb about library field trips - it always makes me smile!!

      And what is it about the bathrooms that draws people in? lol!

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  4. I love that you shared a different side of your life we woud not have known. Books are a love of mine too and I long for time to sit and read. (normally I read in my bathtub) :0 It just relaxes me.
    Great post! Thanks.

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    1. There's more to me than figure competitions but I sometimes forget to share that with you guys. I'm going to try & do a better job of it!

      I've dropped too many books in the tub so I had to put a ban on reading during bathtime :(

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  5. Awe...I love this post. Thank you for sharing this side of yourself! I love reading. Now that I like to crochet, I don't read like I used to but this post has inspired me to grab a good book. And, like, Chelsea, I can't step into a library without having to go to the bathroom! (Barnes & Noble and antique stores also do this!)

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    1. You're welcome!! I need to share the other side of Tenecia more often! :)

      If you need any good book recommendations, just let me know!

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    2. Oh my gosh....totally laughing! I think it's some sort of physiological response! I do the same thing at Barnes & Noble and Antique Stores too! Ha ha ha! I think it's the smell of the paper or the old smell of ? in the antique store.....oh.....so funny! My 2 sisters have the exact same problem as myself. Now I know of another person :o)

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  6. Thank you for writing this!! I too have always been a bookworm... I always won the reading challenges at my school and hometown library and I still read everything I can get my hands on. I love WORDS - it's difficult to explain. I'll literally read anything, whatever I can find - a crappy coupon book, a magazine that has no relevance to me or my life, and I am known to reread the same good books over and over and over.

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    1. Did you have Book It where you grew up? I would always win the most prizes...without even trying :)

      And I completely understand what you means about loving words - I get the "Word of the Day" email from Webster's Dictionary just because I love learning new words & their meanings.

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  7. Wow! I can't believe I have found another figure competitor who is a librarian! I started working in the public library five years ago in the children's department. Now I am a college librarian and competing in my first show on Saturday! Any advice? I love your blog!

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    1. Go Librarians!!! How do you like working in an academic library versus a public library?

      I have a TON of advice but the most important is this --> take the time to REALLY enjoy show day. It will go by so quickly but make it a point to slow down & just take in what you're doing and what you've accomplished. All of your hard work has led up to this day so soak it up..every single minute of it!

      Email me (teneciap at gmail dot com) if you want any other pieces of advice or have questions!!

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  8. I can't tell you how much I love this post! It's so refreshing to hear about someone with such passion about their career! I can only hope to be as inspiring as you some day :)

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    1. Aww Liz! You are too kind! It took me awhile to figure out my career path but I'm so happy that I finally did!

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