Engage

This afternoon I went to my local public library to return overdue books (bad borrower) and pick up some books that I had placed on reserve. I read a lot of book reviews and often reserve any that might interest me if my library has them. I have about 30 books on reserve right now and today I checked out 10 of them. I pulled them off the shelf and sat down at a table that was nearby and occupied by a man who looked to be in his late 60s. He made a comment about how I was going to read all those books in the three weeks that the library let me have them for. I said it was a problem that I really didn't have a solution for except that I would take them home and do my best.

Normally, I would have left the conversation there and tottered off to the check-out line. But I have decided that I am starting early with my 2012 New Years Resolution to engage more. This man had a kind face and was obviously up for a chat as he had started it so I looked at him openly. He said 'what are all these books?"

So I took them, one by one, from my pile and told him what they were. The first was a book called Maphead. This book was recommended by a book store in Seattle called Elliott Bay Book Company which is my favourite book store in the world. They have a book review section on their website which is written by the staff of the book store and this one was highly recommended, written by a Seattle Author who was a famous winner of Jeopardy - Ken Jennings. I love maps and will read any book about map making. The gentleman nodded his head and said he approved of this book.

I guess I should tell you that this man was from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. We talked a little about how it was hard to be away from our countries of birth but that both of us were more than happy to have that hardship. We talked about politics and he was very smart. He said something very interesting about Australian politics that I had never heard before - he said it doesn't matter one little bit who is our Prime Minister - that Australia is a rich country, a lucky country and whoever is running it will not screw that up too badly. He said that he thought Malcolm Turnbull would be a good PM but would not be liked because he was a millionaire and Australian's like a battler as their leader. Interesting.

Anyway, the next book off the pile was one about Annie Leibovitz. He shook his head and said she was not an important photographer, that she only got a name because she took photos of celebrities. I said I was interested in her life not her photography, so much. I said that Ansel Adams was my favourite photographer and a look came over his face as he nodded. "For art to be good it has to speak to you and Ansel Adams sings great arias", he said. I felt my throat close a little as he sighed and looked towards my pile.

The next was a book called Women of Letters curated (I love that) by Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire. He approved when I explained this was a book about writing letters to and about women. The next two books were knitting pattern books and they were passed over as little interest to him although I explained I was very excited to take them home and dream of things I could make. He smiled indulgently.

The next was a beginers Ukulele book. I just bought a good ukulele and need to learn some basic playing skills. I got a little nod for that one but clearly he didn't care. The next was the new book by Daniel Woodrell of Winter's Bone fame. I am really looking forward to that book.

Finally came The Best Australian Poems 2011. Well, he lit up like Christmas tree lights. "Poetry is the highest form of Art" he said. "You can learn almost all you need to know about how to be a good human being from poetry and history". I told him that I had just finished a university poetry class and I found out that I really enjoyed reading poetry and that earned a big smile.

We talked a little more about life and love. He told me about his life in Asia and about his studies as a young man in history and his many years of teaching history at university. He was a truly lovely man and I feel enriched and inspired by my half hour conversation.

So for 2012 (but starting now) my aim is to engage with people, art, music and poetry. I have a tendency to tuck myself up in my home and shut out the world. I go to work, classes, see friends occasionally and talk to family overseas weekly. But most of my time is spent in solitude and I have grown to like this. This won't change but when I do meet someone like this lovely man from Pakistan I will endevour to engage in conversation and learn.

I will post about all these books in the next few weeks. I am really looking forward to reading them all now that my studies have finished for the summer. I like to tell people how I find books that I have read but mostly people are not as interested as I am, but I can engage on this blog with anyone interested to read my thoughts. I love writing about books and life. And I am fortunate that I have an outlet to do it. Lucky me.