Dearly Departing....: Parting

Monday, March 12, 2012

Parting - Books

SHE loved barrister bookcases. I have three of hers, one for each son. I filled them with books in her house. Most of them are ancient books from Lexie's house, and the others are from her own collection, mostly classics, SHE preferred reading from a vintage volume, some of which SHE purchased on ebay or thrift stores, others SHE would simply check out from the library, but never a paperback did SHE read.

I am looking for a nursing home for ancient books. I am not sure what all I have really. I did separate out some of them. I have a box of medically themed books, a box of dictionaries, poetry and music. And these are the ones not in the barristers. I will plough through them all and hopefully find proper homes, it just doesn't seem right to just delete them from existence. If you have an interest in books, they are free to good homes, email me at itsmarialice@gmail.com.

I am trying to catalog as I go.

FIRST BOOK GIVEN:

"The Surgeon's Vade Mecum: A Manual of Modern Surgery

Author: Robert Druitt

10th edition

350 wood engravings

John Churchhill & Sons

Published 1870

This went to a surgeon I respect, whose aging father is also a physician who is still practicing medicine. He was delighted.

NEXT BOOK GIVEN:

"Farm Ballads"

Author: Will Carleton

Harper and Row 1873

The inscription in the cover reads: Presented to Emma Eulalia Clark for her 18th birthday January 5, 1891, by her mother.

This went to our sister's husband Mark, tobacco farmer Extraordinare for Christmas this year. SHE would have been thrilled. Here he is in his Rat Rod.

This is the book.

"Household Book of Poetry"

1882

and

"Poetical Work"

Sir Walter Scott

1853

These went to Carrie, a friend of my son who is studying for her Masters in Poetry. There is a small tub of poetry books, these two were her pick. She loved the "Household Book of Poetry," commenting how cookbook-like it was, that every house would of course have a book of poetry.

While talking with Carrie about all the books I had to part with, I mentioned music books, a full tub of those not to mention the mandolin sheet music, whatever would I do with mandolin sheet music? I play the mandolin she said. Hmmm. So I will go into the attic and find these boxes as she is fairly new to her mandolin and her teacher could very well be interested in the music books.

AND THE FOLLOWING

Presented to son Number One, lover of the English language, all things written. Growing up he carried a book with him wherever we went, short trip to the mall, long drive to Florida. On vacations he would peruse used books stores starting around 5th grade, forget the scenic overlooks. Studied Japanese literature, conquered that language, blogging instruction in Japanese shows as much of his knowledge of English as it does Japanese. Currently working on a masters in creative writing........

"American Illustrated Pronouncing Pocket Dictionary"

1878 Hurst & Co

According to the preface the object was "to produce a Practical, Explanatory and Pronouncing Dictionary of our Language, at a price that would put it in the hands of the million."

"Handbooks of Society"

1871 G.W. Carleton & Sons

This three book boxed set is hilariously described as "the most perfect and complete of their kind ever published. They are made up of no dry, stupid rules that everybody know, but are fresh, sensible,

good-humored, entertaining, and readable."

Vol I "The Art of Conversation"

with

Directions for self education

Vol II "The Habits of Good Society"

A Handbook for

Ladies and Gentlemen.

with

Thoughts, hints, and anecdotes concerning social observances, nice

points of taste and good manners and the art of making

one's self agreeable. The whole interspersed with

humorous illustrations of social predicaments,

remarks on fashion, etc.

Vol III "The Art of Writing"

The Arts of Writing, Reading and Speaking

"Composition and Rhetoric"

1912 by Erle E. Clippinger

Silver, Burdett and Company

The preface states this book is intended to "provide more definite directions for a secondary school course in composition and rhetoric" than before.

"New Dictionary of the English Language"

1925 Edition

This book is NOT published by the original publisher of

Websters's Dictionary, nor by their successors, but published by

P. F. COLLIER & SONS COMPANY

New York

"The Desk Standard Dictionary

of the English Language"

Funk & Wagnall's Company

New York and London

1922

1,200 Pictorial Illustrations

All of these books are filled with small treasures, some used as bookmarks, some pieces of paper with notes to self, advertisements, death announcements. The last dictionary has a couple of type written sheets titled "Punctuation in a Nutshell." I will leave these in the book but will make a copy for me. I love nutshells.

All for now, many more books to come. Check back for updates.

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An Explanaton

We were somewhat amazed. It became clear SHE was far more organized than we thought. Her own things were tucked in, orderly and efficiently - running shirts on one rack, adventure gear in another closet, shorts neatly placed in one drawer, dog leashes in a basket, etc. Then we began to notice a trend, collections that is. Barrister bookcases, wooden rocking chairs, sewing machines, wildlife artwork.......

Most of this was concealed really when we would visit her, camouflaged by disorder and the presence of four rowdy dogs who commanded priority consideration distracting everyone from everything. There was a mystery room or two that we weren't sure exactly what they contained and we had honored that seclusion.

Unearthing her eccentric life has been humbling. Some of it, her clothing, was easy to pass on to Goodwill, a fave hangout of us three sisters. And some was easy just to toss, my mothers aged dried flower arrangements for example. Other things will take a while. Scraps of paper with my mothers handwriting she had saved, photographs, coffee mugs with her initials, books that she loved, running medals, running shirts, stamps torn off the corners of envelopes that she found interesting.........these things will be savored then let go.

SHE lived her bucket list. Okay, there were a couple things left SHE said, but other than that SHE had gone the distance. Never a conformist, always a individualist, SHE did it her way. Most memorable is her love for our mother and the love SHE felt by her, there was never a day SHE didn't feel loved. Single by choice, SHE lead a bull in a china shop life, fearless of disparaging opinion and unyielding in her quest for the ideal.

SHE was a workaholic. SHE loved her profession and dedicated her life to it. Her work was impeccable and meticulous, a striking contrast to her laid back home. Early in her career SHE took her skills to volunteer in underdeveloped countries and this became a life long commitment. SHE demanded the highest standard of performance from herself and also from those around her whether they liked it or not. SHE didn't win friends this way but ultimately SHE earned respect.

Outside of work, her life was filled with adventure. On her 40th birthday SHE challenged Mt. Kilimanjaro. When SHE failed to reach the top, SHE simply signed up to go the next year and completed her quest. Where mission trips didn't take her, SHE went on her own. Africa, Switzerland, The Galapagos, and as my brother says, "Bhutan, why is SHE going to Bhutan?" The list goes on.

SHE began running after out mother’s death and completed fifteen marathons after the age of fifty. SHE encouraged, okay hounded, those around her – coworkers, neighbors and total strangers. SHE threw down the gauntlet and inspired many to take up the challenge adding marathons or simple 5K’s to their lives.

Years ago I took my youngest son and a friend to her home on Spring Break. Halfway there I realized where we were going and I asked my son's friend if he had any eccentric relatives. Being from New Orleans, of course he said yes, so I told him we were taking him to see ours. Her home was unlike most but I knew it would be okay to take this friend.

Growing up, she took my dolls and hid them in her tree house knowing full well I was much too chicken to retrieve them and was at her mercy. We filled our pockets with dry dog food in an attempt to get the dog to follow us on our walks through the countryside. We protected each other keeping secret that we nibbled those nuggets from time to time trying to convince that dog that ignored our invitations.

After SHE died on September 13, 2011 it was necessary to cross lines of privacy we had never traversed, it was time to unearth what was packed away and bring to the light what SHE had accumulated. We will be parting, departing or keeping things belonging to my mother, my mother's best friend Lexie who died in 1998 at the age of 94 and her own odd collection of worldly goods.

The last year of her life, her cell phone somehow got stuck sending all her messages in capital letters. It was strangely reminiscent of the voice of Owen Meany in John Irving's book "A Prayer for Owen Meany." It has left a lasting impression on me as I compare her simple and unquestioning faith in God to that of Owen who never wavered in his convictions. So I will simply refer to my sister as SHE as I write this story.

Did I mention the garage?