365 True Things: 136/Books

Books drying from a coffee spill

This afternoon, I found myself in the garage going through a few boxes of books. I say "found myself" advisedly: I don't recall deciding to sort through books. Although of course I must have. But somehow, at one point in the afternoon, it apparently seemed like the perfect thing to do—and so there I found myself! Subliminally. Unconsciously.

The impetus was to find a book. Very funny, considering I have about fifteen boxes of books, all with vague labels such as "travel" and "nonfiction" and "sunroom II." But also some labeled "fiction," and it was a book of fiction I hoped to unearth: Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman.

Because I'm noodling on an essay idea about time, and I wanted to peruse his lovely little stories that explore various aspects of that concept. For example, Time cannot be measured; it is a quality. Time is discontinuous, containing gaps and pauses. There is no future; time is a line that terminates at the present. Cause and effect are erratic; at times, effect precedes cause. Time is like a flow of water, sometimes moving backward. Time is a nightingale.

Well, I didn't find that book. But another one I hoped to stumble on was The Shipping News, which I mentioned the other day (#132). And there it was! Along with many other titles that I wish I had enough time left to read.

But I don't—even if I read all day every day until whatever day I die. I am a slow reader. Plus, I just don't read very much anymore. I used to. And I keep hoping one day it will become habit again. My life moves in cycles, I recognize that; so it's certainly possible.

I did fill up a couple of boxes with books that I know I won't read, or even be tempted to among the wealth of other, more appealing titles. I bought them on a whim (or at least on an intriguing review), as well as a spurt of temporal optimism—like, the thought that somehow I would have enough time to read them all.

I'll continue to fill boxes with cast-offs, and then I will cart them to the Friends of Marina Library, which has its own amazon store: a fund-raising venture. What an excellent project! And I'm glad to know that while I'm supporting them with my donation, they'll be supporting me by helping me clean out my garage. Win-win.

Tomorrow I have another free day, and I intend to "find myself" in the garage again (and this time I mean that in multiple ways). It's good to sift through my material life, get reacquainted.

Though in the case of books, what I discover is much bigger than myself. It's the whole world, and more.