I just returned from a meeting in Indianapolis and find myself a bit frazzled. Traffic was bumper to bumper when I turned onto Interstate 465. Cell phones rang repeatedly during the workshop and the presenter's computer was being contrary. Oh, the joys of modern life! Do you remember when life was simpler and moved at a slower pace? Or if you are too young, have you ever yearned for that type of lifestyle?
As a baby boomer, I remember growing up in a small town, probably very similar to Greensburg. Neighbors gathered on front porches in the evening while kids played Hide 'n Seek. We only had three channels of television and they all stopped broadcasting at midnight! And locking your house doors – well, who ever heard of such a thing!
While it isn't possible to go back in time and really experience those sweet, nostalgic times, you can at least enjoy them vicariously through books. I have to admit one of my secret pleasures is just sitting on my back porch swing during the summer, sipping iced tea, and getting lost in a good book. And I also have to admit I am one of those people who really like Daylight Savings Time – it just gives me that much more time for porch sitting!
I'd like to share one of my favorite book series with you and also two that are on my "To Read" list. One of my all-time favorite authors is James Herriot who wrote stories based on his life as a veterinarian in England's Yorkshire Dales.
Herriot penned many books, the first of which is "All Creatures Great and Small." The timeframe is 1930s and 1940s and his stories are filled with the odd, but endearing characters he meets in his veterinary practice – some human, some animal. Meet Herriot's boss, the eccentric, but lovable Siegfried Farnon and Siegfried's mischievous brother Tristan. And then there is Mrs. Pumphrey and her beloved Pekingese Tricki Woo who needs to diet and occasionally goes "crackerdog." These are just a few of the unforgettable characters who populate his stories. The books were wildly popular a few years ago and were made into a BBC television series. Both the books and videos are available here at the library.
Have you "visited" Harmony, Indiana . . . "a tiny town hidden beneath the staple in the Rand McNally Atlas?" This fictional town is the creation of Phillip Gulley, a Quaker minister from Danville, Indiana. Follow the exploits of Sam Gardner as he begins his first year as pastor of the Harmony Friends Meeting with help from pals such as Billy Bundle, the "World's Shortest Evangelist." Oh, and join the Friendly Women's Circle Chicken Noodle Dinner – their motto is "Meeting All Your Noodle Needs Since 1964." "Welcome to Harmony" is the first book in this humorous look at small-town America populated with crusty lovable characters.
If you haven't been to Harmony, surely you have been to Mitford, a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. If not you are in for a treat. "At Home in Mitford" by Jan Karon is the first title in the best selling Mitford series. Mitford is a "charming village, nestled among high, green hills, the air is pure, the pace is slower, and the people are generally lovable." Curl up in a comfy chair and meet Father Tim, the Episcopal rector, as he is adopted by Barnabas, a dog the size of a sofa, and becomes the entangled in the lives of the townspeople. The series follows Father Tim and company over the years as their lives change and evolve. These books are a delightful, humorous read that provide a satisfying look at small town life.
If you are ready for a change of pace and need a break from today's fast paced world full of depressing news events – turn off the television and treat yourself to these nostalgic, gentle stories. Sometimes we all need a break from reality – pull up a comfy, chair, pour a spot of tea, and enjoy tales from these master storytellers.
If these books are not your style, then that's ok. The library has over 90,000 books from which to choose – we have something for everyone! Hope to see you soon at the Greensburg-Decatur County Library!