Ghosts: Part Two
My alarm went off at five AM. I don't remember it happening. I basically came to in the shower.
I got dressed in my red bandanna and Captain America T-shirt, and fed the dogs. Then I went outside, got on my bike, and rode to the library.
September 11.
Every year, I talk the library into staying open extra hours in memory of September 11. I do it because it's patriotic, and because it's a good program for the library. I also do it because I love having the place to myself.
I walked in at five-thirty. I started the coffee, got the books from the outside book drop, and turned on the computers. The place was dark; I had it all to myself. I could hear the ghosts moving around down in the gallery area.
A couple of times a year, it happens this way; I end up being alone in the library, before the city is awake. I love those moments. There's something lovely about it.
Team RWB, a local veterans' group, came in and began running the American flag around the city. That's their program---They use the library as a base, and have a flag moving constantly through Lock Haven, sunrise to sunset.
At seven AM, we had our sunrise flag-raising ceremony. One candidate for mayor came to say a few words. He'd been the only one available---It was almost like it wasn't an election year.
We raised the flag, and I turned to the audience. Diane was there, and the veterans, and Bre had shown up during the ceremony. Bre is the daughter of an old friend, who came around sometimes to help out with projects.
Afterward, she came into the library with me.
"What do you need me to do?" she asked.
"I'm going to need you to pull the Record, and find a few of my columns," I said. "I need the ones about the Civil War. It's for a project in October."
"Okay. Did I hear you say you're going on the radio later?"
"Yeah, you wanna come along?"
"We're here on WBPZ 1230, with Lou, and he's got a guest today. He brought in his assistant for the day, Bre. Say hi, Bre."
"Hi everyone."
"So, Bre, what are you doing these days?"
"I'm a senior in high school. I'd like to go to Bloomsburg and become a CNA."
"Well, best of luck. And you're helping Lou out at the library with September eleventh?"
"Yes, I am."
"She's been great today, Jeff. She's helping with some research, some filing. She's a big help."
"And what's going on at the library?"
'We're open sunrise to sunset tonight. We've got Team RWB running the American flag through the city---And the public is invited to join in, if they'd like. Just come to the library and pick up a flag."
We left the radio station after the show, Bre and I, walking back down Main Street toward the library.
"That was cool," she said.
I got dressed in my red bandanna and Captain America T-shirt, and fed the dogs. Then I went outside, got on my bike, and rode to the library.
September 11.
Every year, I talk the library into staying open extra hours in memory of September 11. I do it because it's patriotic, and because it's a good program for the library. I also do it because I love having the place to myself.
I walked in at five-thirty. I started the coffee, got the books from the outside book drop, and turned on the computers. The place was dark; I had it all to myself. I could hear the ghosts moving around down in the gallery area.
A couple of times a year, it happens this way; I end up being alone in the library, before the city is awake. I love those moments. There's something lovely about it.
Team RWB, a local veterans' group, came in and began running the American flag around the city. That's their program---They use the library as a base, and have a flag moving constantly through Lock Haven, sunrise to sunset.
At seven AM, we had our sunrise flag-raising ceremony. One candidate for mayor came to say a few words. He'd been the only one available---It was almost like it wasn't an election year.
We raised the flag, and I turned to the audience. Diane was there, and the veterans, and Bre had shown up during the ceremony. Bre is the daughter of an old friend, who came around sometimes to help out with projects.
Afterward, she came into the library with me.
"What do you need me to do?" she asked.
"I'm going to need you to pull the Record, and find a few of my columns," I said. "I need the ones about the Civil War. It's for a project in October."
"Okay. Did I hear you say you're going on the radio later?"
"Yeah, you wanna come along?"
"We're here on WBPZ 1230, with Lou, and he's got a guest today. He brought in his assistant for the day, Bre. Say hi, Bre."
"Hi everyone."
"So, Bre, what are you doing these days?"
"I'm a senior in high school. I'd like to go to Bloomsburg and become a CNA."
"Well, best of luck. And you're helping Lou out at the library with September eleventh?"
"Yes, I am."
"She's been great today, Jeff. She's helping with some research, some filing. She's a big help."
"And what's going on at the library?"
'We're open sunrise to sunset tonight. We've got Team RWB running the American flag through the city---And the public is invited to join in, if they'd like. Just come to the library and pick up a flag."
We left the radio station after the show, Bre and I, walking back down Main Street toward the library.
"That was cool," she said.