When i was 12 years old and i was a shy, cowardly chubby girl i discovered the school library. It was my safe haven during lunch hours and free periods. I met a wonderful librarian who meant the world to me. She was everything, my anchor in this world that for that dark period in my life i didn't want to be in. The library was a mess. She was throwing things out and she gave me free books. She introduced me to Paul Zindel, the author of "The Pigman and Me". I fell in love with this book because it was accurate in that kids feel out of place and that they need guidance through life. I felt like i was not the only one that felt left out. In other words i fell in love with Paul Zindel. I inhaled his books like a lifeline until the inevitable happened: i grew up.
In high school i found out he died in 2004 but then i found out it was really in 2003 and i would have been too late to meet him anyway. A week ago i decided to wikipedia him and found out he was buried in the Moravian cemetery in Staten Island so i took the express bus there and went to visit his grave. I got all emotional (because i felt like being emotional that day) and started talking to his tomb stone. In my defense I've been seeing a lot of "One Tree Hill" lately and all they do is talk to graves in that show. So i decided to try it out and even though there was no one there i felt like a fool. I have a whole new respect for actors. But i digress...
It was an awesome experience to talk to one of my favorite authors (even if it was just his tomb stone) i never really got to express to my beautiful librarian that i loved her and that she saved my life but i got to thank one of my favorite authors for providing the escape i needed.
Everyone is not so lucky to know who changed their lives and made them who they are today. I love making people happy because someone made me happy unconditionally and i love books because someone nurtured that love in me. I owe my sanity to that librarian and now i can't find her and thank her. If you are out there i love you and thank you Jane Pierce.
