community

September 19, 2004


"If you don't like the weather, wait a minute." -- New England proverb frequently attributed (erroneously) to Mark Twain

What a difference a day makes! Ivan's been here and gone. Alas too much water prevented Nancy from getting a bus up here to join me for the Strut for the Strays today so I'm going it alone. Going it alone on zero sleep too. But with absolutely perfect weather.

It was great to see the Greyhound Rescue people there with their beautiful dogs. It was great to see how many Strutters walked with their canine companions. Stacy's daughter walked the most adorable golden retriever puppy who was wearing a Red Sox bandana. Too cute and quaint- New-England-theme-park-esque for words. I managed to raise $147 in sponsorships from people at my new workplace (still haven't come up with a code name), Unitarian poets, and coffee buddies.

I started out walking at a good pace but my knee started to give out so I had to slow down and bring up the rear. I walked the last mile and a half with Stacy and kid and puppy who were forming the rear guard. As soon as I got back to Bartlett Mall, I called Nancy to check on the Red Sox.

I had a wonderful time talking with MRFRS volunteers whom I hadn't seen in awhile and particularly enjoyed talking with Bonnie Buckley, a former MRFRS staff member, who is doing a wonderful service for our troops in Iraq and their mascots. She had a booth at the Strut selling patriotic doodads to raise money for her military mascots project. Also it was a relief to talk to someone who was nonjudgemental about BiB's experiences. (Yes, oh left wing and right wing readers, I can be simultaneously opposed to the war and support the troops. The best thing we can do to support the troops and their civilian support team is to bring them home.) Heck, it was just nice to talk to someone affiliated with the cat shelter who realizes we are still at war. Somedays I wonder if our board and volunteers live in a parallel universe.

 After the Strut I limped over to the Newburyport Public Library (actually I drove there and parked as close as possible) for the silent auction of used books to celebrate the library's 150th anniversary and raise a little funds in this day and age of insufficient library funding. When I limped in wearing my Strut t-shirt, the Friends of the Library told me I was the third person to come from the Strut -- actually I was only the second as they were counting the guy who designed the shirt for us who was wearing his. He hadn't actually come from the Strut. Anyway, the library people were happy to see Strutters show up. I had a long chat with the guy who organized the book auction as he is also an MRFRS volunteer. I told him I thought I was the only MRFRS volunteer interested in old books until he came along. Given the strong association between used book stores and cats, you'd think there'd be more overlap. There's got to be some way to capitalize on the connection between books and cats. I'll have to brianstorm with him at the next fundraising committee meeting. Nice to talk books and cats with someone who loves both.

While I was still at the library, Nancy called to update me on the Red Sox/Yankees debacle. Sigh. Can't have everything. What's up with Petey against the Yankees?

I was outbid on the Caleb Cushing memoir I wanted (being newly back on my feet financially I had to stick to a firm budget) but I got a great bargain on a book of bird paintings by Michael Warren. The painting of horned larks on the cover drew me in and once I flipped to the page with the most accurate painting of a piping plover pair on the beach that I have ever seen, I knew the book had to be mine. Fortunately, only one other bidder was interested and apparently not as interested as I, so I came home with the book. The birds are all species associated with the sea and shore on both sides of the Atlantic. Wonderful choices.

While I was waiting for the bidding to close, I chatted with another book collector who wanted to know about my Merrimack Valley collection.

For once, I felt a sense of community, albeit in a city I don't even live in. I was glad I could fit in both the Strut and the library fundraiser.

Today's Reading
Birds in the Bush by Bradford Torrey

This Year's Reading
2004 Booklist

Today's Starting Pitcher
Pedro Martinez


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Copyright © 2004, Janet I. Egan