As the season of Lent approaches, I remember the days when it
was the practice of all Catholic school children to
”
give up
”
something for the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. As I
got older, giving up ice cream or candy became less of a
”
give up
”
because my adult life didn’t include snacks as a top
priority.
As the season of Lent approaches, I remember the days when it was the practice of all Catholic school children to “give up” something for the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. As I got older, giving up ice cream or candy became less of a “give up” because my adult life didn’t include snacks as a top priority. While the practice still exists, the focus in the Catholic Church for me has shifted to what I can do above and beyond rather than what I can do without. But I did put some thought this week into what I could not give up.
I could not give up my family or my friends, who keep me grounded and surrounded with love and support. I could not give up the comfort foods that my husband claims I have an almost unhealthy relationship with like good bread, homemade pizza and French salad dressing. I could not give up newspapers or books. I do not watch the news on TV, so newspapers are my lifeline to what is happening in the world. Giving up books would be like cutting off an arm. I need books as much as I need water.
Two weeks ago, a dynamic group of Gilroy women held our second book exchange. Our first exchange yielded a bounty of wonderful fiction, so this time we were asked to bring a “can’t live without” reference or coffee table book. The selections were varied; from crafts to religion, cookbooks to political essays, philosophy to biography, even the definitive book on etiquette. Because I have a stack of books on my bedside table which I am currently reading, I opted to choose “Shakespeare in a Box.”
Inside the box are scripts, director notes and props for a group to perform “The Taming of the Shrew” in 45 minutes. I envisioned my children performing this classic in my living room while I cheered them on as I curled up with a glass of cabernet. To date, I have only seen the props and wig on my children and overheard a heated discussion on who should be directing this masterpiece. I’m thinking now that perhaps I erred in not choosing to learn how to knit instead.
On the topic of books, I was saddened by the closing of Wize Owl Bookstore recently. I was an early and often patron when it was located at the corner of Santa Teresa and First Street. Once they moved downtown, I went less often. Downtown will need and be able to sustain a bookstore in another two or three years, but we aren’t there yet. I still hold out hope that Wize Owl will return someday.
I love the Barnes and Noble store in town. When I have an hour to kill between parent pickup duties, I go and browse the nice selection of titles they hold. The music and video section is a nice bonus as well. When I need to get a last minute gift, I head right over to Barnes & Noble because they have something for everyone.
I am hoping that Barnes and Noble will be a resource as the new Gilroy High School Library nears completion. I recently learned from Principal Bob Bravo about the pressing need for books for the school library. The school has $6,500 to spend on new books, and the Parent Club will also donate money. However, we have a long way to go before the school library is worthy of our flagship school. The library has about 10 percent of the titles they should be holding. Even to get to 50 percent will be a challenge, but where there is a will there is a way.
I am willing to have to forego “frills” in public education, but having an adequate supply of books is a must. I am counting on the community to support the effort to build a better library at Gilroy High.
