March 5

It's the senior citizens center now, but when I was a kid, this building was the library. The children's books were at the northeast corner; the blinds that are now drawn were always open, flooding the area with light.

I can still remember the general vicinity of the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books, just to the right of the windows. And the heavy blonde wood furniture. And how quiet it was, and how it smelled. And the red-haired librarian, Mrs. Platz, who seemed skeptical that I'd truly read all the books I claimed during the summer reading program.

And I can remember the story my mother always told: that I would finish at least one book on the drive from the library to our house.

Lubbock, Texas