Well my friends, you will never guess what was waiting for me in the mailbox. A package. Package? I didn't order a package. What was it? Oh my goodness look at this envelope on the front, Easton Press? No. -- Yes! I opened it and there was a leather bound collection of poetry with a little card in there that read "You deserve this. Mom”. I'm not sure how to express speechlessness on paper, but that's what I was. Speechless.
It's a beautiful rusty red color about 8 by 10 and I don't know why it should surprise me, but it smells like a pair of brand new shoes! Actually more like leather boots come to think of it. When you open it, just on the inside it is covered with textured golden silk. It has a matching satin ribbon bookmark. Everything about it is delightful altogether. It is full of poetry and wonderful color photographs of flowers and scenery. I have read the first dozen pages or so and because they happen to have three poems early on by Robert Frost I was reminded again what a very good poet he is. I intend to read every page when I have time to properly enjoy it.
I have wondered while browsing catalogs all those times from Easton Press if perhaps the idea of them was better than the reality. (As so often happens to things we are the thinking we might like to buy). But in this case all those imagined qualities turned out to be true, and a little bit more. Books are wonderful things. So low-tech and so accessible. No electricity or special machines required, just a place to curl up and enough light to see by and time to pursue them. The quiet pastime that humans have indulged in for a very very long time.
As you can tell, I got OVER my speechlessness! (What a long word!)
Thanks Mom, for making one of my dreams come true.