The girl who loved books, Part I

Once upon a time there was a girl who loved books very much. One day while she was wandering through her magical castle she encountered a grand library and was overwhelmed with joy. This was no ordinary library, for it had four floors full of shelves that stretched to the tall ceiling. On the lowest level were enchanted sliding shelves that squeezed together at the command of a remote control. These shelves were packed with periodicals, journals, law books, and other documents of higher learning. The second floor was a maze of nonfiction and a vast array of religious literature. As she stared down the aisle containing books about saints of the past, the girl could barely glimpse the far away end of the row. She entered one aisle and curiously surveyed the titles. Much to her surprise, she could not read them, for they were in French, Spanish, Polish, and other unfamiliar languages of far away lands.
After finding her way out of the first floor menagerie, the girl who loved books traveled to the top of the wide spiral staircase at the center of the library, where she encountered an abundance of the most wonderful literary treats. Poetry, short stories, and novels whispered to her from the shelves. These books seemed to glow as they sat pridefully in their periodically-numbered places, just waiting to be found and opened. The girl walked through a tight aisle and marveled at the spines of the glorious specimens surrounding her. As one who knew a bit about books, the girl knew that much could be told about a book from its cover. Some old spines stood intact, the sign of a well made but rarely read book. Paper covers with glossy plastic protection showed the mark of a caring librarian, or literary physician. Frayed and tattered fabric covers indicated an old craft with valuable content. Often the inside pages of this kind were dog-eared for the ease of finding a favorite passage. Tired old paperbacks were held up between sturdy old novels with pressed leather pages. Occasionally a new book with uncracked spines protruded from a shelf, as though screaming to be opened and loved.
A strange thought occurred to the girl who loved books. This mysterious place must have been here for years... how long ago was the first book placed on this very shelf? She decided to find out. It didn't take the girl long to realize that the library was, indeed, much older than her 19-year-old self. In fact, the first book probably reached those shelves around the childhood of her great-grandmother. Several of the books had been printed many years ago, as indicated by the years printed on the first pages. The girl lifted one particularly wise looking book and gingerly opened the cover. She moved extra slowly as she did this, partially in awe and partially in fear that the brittle pages between her fingers would crumble to dust if she moved too harshly. The smell of ancient paper drifted to her nose, tainted with the acidic tinge of ink. It reminded her of her mother, who told stories of running presses and knew all there was to know about Benjamin Franklin. It was a good thing she was clutching the book in a hug-like manner, for if she had not been guarding the book well it would have fallen to the ground when she jumped in delight. 1850! The book was printed in 1850... just imagine, the era of hoop skirts and railroads...as well as slavery, corsets and plagues... Even such thoughts could not ruin the majesty of the book in the girl's hands. In an awe-struck daze, the girl who loved books tucked the treasure from 1850 into its proper place on the shelf and backed out of the aisle.
Class was calling and the girl had to go, but not before carefully selecting four treasures to take with her: Cuentos Espanoles (a tired paperback, 1960), The Boy's Froissart (she could never resist a good knight in shining armor, worn fabric cover, 1907), Beloved Prophet: The Love Letters of Kahlil Gibran and Mary Haskell and her private journal (a tended hardcover, 1972), and Lyra Celtica (a fabulous fabric cover with pressed letters and designs, 1932). Luckily this room of the castle had many entrances, so even if the room moved (as rooms were known to do in this castle), she could surely find a way in somehow or another. The girl who loved books practically floated down the spiral staircase, still in awe of her wondrous discovery. She could not wait to return soon...

Love with your guts

When the required reading list for the Freshman Honors seminar was posted I had a strange mix of feelings. The first thought to come to my mind was "Woo hoo! I get to go to Barnes and Noble!" upon which I hopped into the family car and drove to the nearest bookstore. Upon purchasing $50 worth of novels I realized just how hefty this higher learning stuff was going to be. "Oh my," I pondered, "This novel has 796 pages. How am I ever going to finish just this one?" The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoevsky's last and greatest novel. All I had to say was... Bring it on.

At this point in time I have read about one third of the novel. I am on track with the syllabus and am enjoying the in class discussions about the story and its characters. While I know for certain that not everyone finds this novel to be an enjoyable read because of the long tirades and numerous characters, I have a great interest in "The Brothers."
While I do not recommend the novel for a leisurely weekend read, I would like to share a bit of the story with you. This excerpt is a quote from one of the Karamazov brothers to another, Ivan to the younger Alyosha. Ivan is cold and critical. He is known for his sharp intellect and deep logic, as well as his rejection of faith and his strange philosophies about life. I found it odd and inspiring that these beautiful words came from such a harsh character:

"I want to go to Europe, Alyosha, I'll go straight from here. Of course I know that I will only be going to a graveyard, but to the most, the most precious graveyard, that's the thing! The precious dead lie there, each stone over them speaks of such ardent past life, of such passionate faith in their deeds, their truth, their struggle, and their science, that I--this I know beforehand--will fall the the ground and kiss those stones and weep over them--being wholeheartedly convinced, at the same time, that it has all along been a graveyard and nothing more. And I will not weep from despair, but simply because I will be happy in my shed tears. I will be drunk with my own tenderness. Sticky spring leaves, the blue sky, I love them, that's all! Such things you love not with your mind, not with logic, but with your insides, your guts, you love your first young strength..." (230).

Perhaps the imagery is gruesome, but I just love that line: "you love them with your insides, your guts!" Here are some things I love with my guts:

Walks after breakfast
Blue skies
Happy goldfish
Perfectly brewed tea
Flowers that bloom into autumn
Calls from home
Finding the perfect position to read in
Heirloom jewelry
Understanding chemistry
Wearing hats
Smiling and holding doors for other people

...basically anything that makes me want to sing and dance is gut-loving worthy.


Dostoevsky, Fyodor. The Brothers Karamazov. Farrar, Straus and Giroux: New York, 2002.

" Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination." ~Oscar Wilde

What is it about boutiques that are so much fun? They are a grown-up girl's version of a candy shop... Fine stationary, eclectic books, hand dyed scarves, gardening goodies, exquisite soaps, one-of-a-kind dresses, original displays, and inspiring decor. This filled my day in Oak Park. What began at a Resident Student Association trip to a nearby resale shop ("Green since 1919") became a day of exploring the cute shops and galleries of downtown Oak Park, Illinois. Perhaps the joy of the day came from the adventure. There was no need to buy anything, but the boutique workers didn't need to know that! My roommate and I even tried on matching dresses... oh, so tempting. It's a fun challenge: resisting the temptation of buying all the fabulous, fun things! I enjoy looking for potential gifts, deals, and most of all just seeing what is out there. There's no need to fret over the price tag if you're not going to buy it-- you can still admire it!

So here is my simple living, little things in life advice of the day:
Go ahead and "just look." Don't be afraid to admire the beautiful things a shop may have, just be respectful of the merchandise and other people there. Smile as you enter a store and respond with " I'm wonderful, how are you?" when the worker behind the register asks how you are today. Ask questions about the products-- the people who run the shop are usually passionate about the things they sell. Try things on-- fall in love with a perfectly fitting dress and then leave it there. If it truly is perfect for you, you'll just have to work for the money to but it. There certainly is something fulfilling about buying something you've had your eyes on for a little while. The key is not to attach your own value to the things you own or desire. Remember, as they say in this week's Gospel reading: "You can't serve both God and mammon" (mammon=riches). If the shop owners/workers treat you in a snobby manner then perhaps you wouldn't want to support their business anyway. After all, some day you might return as a millionaire...

An exercise in self contentment

I have no reason to complain, whine, or gripe about anything. Here is a list of wonderful things in my life. The trick is, they are the first fifteen things that will come to my mind, making this a super fast pre-homework post.... Read, go!

1. My family is the sweetest bunch of people in the entire world

2. I'm listening to really good music. Hooray for Aerosmith (reserve your judgement, thank you).

3. My planner is pink. And shiny. And it has a ribbon bookmark. Love it.

4. My homework is to read and write a whole bunch of (mostly) interesting things. Heck, I know how to read- how lucky I am!

5. I am sitting in a comfortable, ergonomically designed chair that allows me to sit for hours in the same position without making my legs fall asleep. (okay, I just made that up, but I'll pretend it's true.)

6. I'm wearing comfy yoga pants, which were used for their proper purpose earlier this evening. Yay university yoga!

7. I have friends all over the country. They may be scattered and distant, but heck, wherever I go, I'll find an old friend at the nearest college!

8. I don't have to wait a week, month, or year to hear from my loved ones because I have a cell phone. As romantic and classic as letter writing is, it is painfully slow when one is homesick.

9. This computer's internet connection is delightfully quick.

10. The lanyard on my flash drive is from Notre Dame Academy and the lanyard on my room keys is from St. John's Jesuit. Toledo pride, baby!

11. My typing skills have improved greatly, which makes typing papers and blog posts much more fun.

12. My nutrition class is sweet. Plus, the project we did for homework validates the fact that I do, indeed, eat enough protein even if I'm not eating meat every day.

13. My pencils have Disney Princesses on them. Beat that.

14. I have a whole loaf of banana bread (minus the two pieces I ate today) in my room. Yummo.

15. I have seen more butterflies in the past few days than I ever expected I would. Those little guys always make my day.


So there it is. This was more for me than you guys, sorry y'all. Every now and then, I just have to remind myself of just how blessed I am to be exactly where I am.

"For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." [St. Paul In Philippians 4:11]
(from Quotations Book).

God bless.

Once upon a time, in a distant land...

Hello friends, it's been a while and I miss you all.

The reason I haven't written is because I am in a magical, distant place full of wonderful things to do, amazing people to meet, and brilliant things to see called college. Here, my dear friends, is my list of favorite things about college (in no particular order):

1. The campus looks and feels like Hogwarts. The first day of class, I had to stop myself from asking why all the students were not in house robes, and why in the world the faculty was not wearing pointed caps. The reality is, this is Dominican University, not Hogwarts, but the Gothic, ivy draped vibe is still the same. The way light shines through the second level chapel at night is enchanting and beautiful.

2. There is this awesome vibe here called Caritas et Veritas. When I came to admissions events and went on a tour through the campus as a high schooler I was blown away by how friendly everyone was. The school truly is full of people brimming with happiness, from the teachers who actually know your name to the sisters who give you random hugs in the hallways and even the students who hold doors like true gentlemen and ladies. The school motto, meaning "Love and Truth" is totally legit.

3. I have the cutest dorm room. Yes, I was nervous about how it would come together, but it has. My roommate (who is the best roommate one could ask for) and I have bedecked and bedazzled our room complete with art posters, butterfly wall stickers, and shelves full of health food. We have even welcomed another friend into our home, Francis the Goldfish, who I won at the annual DU Fest. My curious friend is a brilliant orange color who brightens even the most difficult homework assignment.

4. I actually like my classes. Yes, that is right, I like my teachers. All of them. I really appreciate how my English 102 teacher didn't just slap an A on my paper... she's actually going to make me refine my writing style before I can have that 4.0. I am also enjoying my Nutrition (yee!), Honors Seminar (aka book club), Chemistry (you'd like chem 101 too if you had this teacher... he doesn't look at you funny no matter how stupid your question is), and Computer Science (very little homework, please and thank you) classes.

5. I'm not the only Jesus Freak, in fact there's a bunch of us. I can go to Mass every day with the sisters on campus and a group of faithful friends. I get to sing in the Liturgical Choir (and get academic credit). Whipping out a rosary is totally commonplace. I can also be a part of an awesome group called Breaking Open, which consists of the coolest group of people on campus and tons of other prayer and service opportunities. I'm even meeting people from different faiths and learning about them. Plus, the chapel is connected to a reading room, which I have taken full advantage of. How cool is that!

6. I don't care what the other kids on campus say, I like the food. The thing is, the cooks sneak vegetables into pretty much everything, so of course I love it! I figure if you don't like the choices of the day just go to the salad bar or make yourself a PB&J.

7. I can wear whatever I want. No uniforms for college kids. Ha!

8. I don't have to wake up at 6:00am to get to class on time. I live two minutes away from breakfast and class... I can get plenty of beauty sleep... most of the time...

9. The Rebecca Crown Library is the most wonderful place in the world. Three levels of library, filled with books from all over the world, in all different languages, on all different subjects, from all different times. I found one book printed in 1850-- and it had a barcode! I can check out anything I want from this glorious place! But more on this later...

10. I know how to get to Chicago and will do so quite often. Believe me, I plan to take full advantage of those student reduced ticket prices!

11. Making new friends, meeting new people, and being overwhelmed with endless opportunities. Yes, it's tiring and stressful, but it's coming together. Dominican University, here I am!