Swollen feet, social ‘ept-edness’ and flowers at the library

Swollen feet notwithstanding, I had a great night.  The library fundraiser went off without a (discernable) hitch.  Sure, a computer crashed during check-in but only because of an over-zealous book return.  The library was transformed in to spring-like bower (flowers by Whole Foods and 1-800-flowers).  Authors* hosted and honored – check.  Guests well-fed (wonderful food from Bakers’ Best) and entertained (Tom Ashbrook and Bill Novak  as hosts – check.  Great silent auction items scooped up – check.

The library was transformed by a team of dedicated volunteers and library employees who have been working towards this day since last year.  We range in age from 40 (ish) to 80 (ish) and share a love of books and the library. We are some or all of the following: visual, literary, quiet, chatty, giving, caring, considerate, kind, opinionated, employed, retired, SAHMs, socially adept**, talented, and dedicated.  We spend a good amount of time in the weeks leading up to the event putting together auction items, labels, programs, name tags, planning the catering, setting up the event, getting babysitters,chatting up the event to friends, selecting and buying books to go with each auction item (from the New England Mobile Book Fair  – long-standing supporters of the library) , and wrapping, wrapping, wrapping.  We are lucky to have a community that supports the library with donations of professional services, goods and one time events (Kiss 108 concert and tour of studio) and the wonderful people who host authors, bid on auction items, support the library with time, energy and showing up for events like this one.

* Authors celebrated last evening:  James Carroll, Anita Diamant, Lisa Genova, Jean Kilbourne, Sara Lawrence Lightfoot, Mitchell Zuckoff.

** I have the temerity to invent the word “ept” as in inept or adept in front of the editor of the local paper, The Newton Tab.

Swollen feet, social 'ept-edness' and flowers at the library

Swollen feet notwithstanding, I had a great night.  The library fundraiser went off without a (discernable) hitch.  Sure, a computer crashed during check-in but only because of an over-zealous book return.  The library was transformed in to spring-like bower (flowers by Whole Foods and 1-800-flowers).  Authors* hosted and honored – check.  Guests well-fed (wonderful food from Bakers’ Best) and entertained (Tom Ashbrook and Bill Novak  as hosts – check.  Great silent auction items scooped up – check.

The library was transformed by a team of dedicated volunteers and library employees who have been working towards this day since last year.  We range in age from 40 (ish) to 80 (ish) and share a love of books and the library. We are some or all of the following: visual, literary, quiet, chatty, giving, caring, considerate, kind, opinionated, employed, retired, SAHMs, socially adept**, talented, and dedicated.  We spend a good amount of time in the weeks leading up to the event putting together auction items, labels, programs, name tags, planning the catering, setting up the event, getting babysitters,chatting up the event to friends, selecting and buying books to go with each auction item (from the New England Mobile Book Fair  – long-standing supporters of the library) , and wrapping, wrapping, wrapping.  We are lucky to have a community that supports the library with donations of professional services, goods and one time events (Kiss 108 concert and tour of studio) and the wonderful people who host authors, bid on auction items, support the library with time, energy and showing up for events like this one.

* Authors celebrated last evening:  James Carroll, Anita Diamant, Lisa Genova, Jean Kilbourne, Sara Lawrence Lightfoot, Mitchell Zuckoff.

** I have the temerity to invent the word “ept” as in inept or adept in front of the editor of the local paper, The Newton Tab.