Me on Monday

I have always loved books. I loved getting them for Christmas and my birthday when I was a little girl--especially since Christmas and my birthday in January were so close together. But, I would loan them out and they would never come back to me. I wouldn't remember who I loaned them to. So, I came up with a foolproof way of keeping track--about 30 years too late. Still, it was something. I removed the dust covers and added a post-it note with the name of the person who borrowed it. Fast forward to 2026...

...as I'm cleaning out. I've been getting rid of a lot of books. A. Lot. I only use my Kindle now, so do not need actual books. The only book---books I read are from friends who actually hand me the book and say, "You have to read this!" When they pile up, I'm compelled to get them read and returned. The last time I did that was last December/January. I read 4 book books in a row. I had had them for several months and they were haunting me! I was glad to finish and return them.

But, as I've been cleaning out, I came across the drawer with all the book jackets of books I've loaned that never came back. I didn't even bother to try to get them back. I just tossed the jackets! 

So, to anyone who borrowed books from me--don't bother returning them! I don't want them anymore.

Getting rid of those books allowed me the room to do this...

...117 scrapbooks all in one place. I'm so happy to have this project finished. But lest you think I don't have many books left--you would be wrong. There is another bookcase as big as this--floor to ceiling on the right wall as well as a smaller one on the side of the fireplace on the opposite wall from this. 

So, I'll be cleaning out more and more. It's sad because I loved my collection of hard-back books. But nobody wants them anymore. It is really sad. I keep saying that I'm going to put books in my car and add them to every "book box" I see. I really need to do that. I have some really good books!! It pains me to let them go.