Bookish Eclectic

     In the mountains of North Carolina, the first day of the New Year requires a particular meal if one wants a good year moving forward. Greens (mixed or collard depending on your family) represent dollars. Black-eyed peas represent coins. Cornbread represents gold, and pork represents other forms of luck and health. I typically go the easy route and get canned vegetables and pre-baked ham. The cornbread is such a staple that it doesn't feel like work.     It was my Nanny who introduced this tradition to me. I know it is common throughout my county because finding any of the ingredients on the day of New Year's is nearly impossible. In fact, I met and had great conversations with two older ladies in the store today just because I helped one find fresh collards (she has more gumption today than I do) and the other find black-eyed peas.      Where do these traditions come from, and why do we pay lip service to them? I enjoy the food tr...

 "You recognize it, little soul. Of course you do; it is known to all who arrive here. It is a myth of an endless library, a place for souls to pause, rest, and regather themselves after death. It is a place of sanctuary; it is a place of homecoming. And, like any good library, it is open to all." ` The God of Lost Words, by A.J. Hackwith (p. 350)      The Hell's Library series by A.J. Hackwith caught my attention about two years ago. The first novel was sitting on my local library's "Just In" shelf, and it certainly caught my attention. A book by a queer sci-fi author? A book about a librarian? I was absolutely going to pick that one up.       Inside of that cover, I found a heroine I could relate to and a world that caught my attention. At the end of the series, I found the quote above. As I have contemplated, over and over, the idea of studying Library Science, this quote just keeps popping into my head. Reading has always been a sanctuary to m...