The Furious Spinner

I'm completely absolutely resting today. No work. No computer time. Nothing. So don't tell anyone I'm on the computer or that I spent part of the morning doing library work. We have an issue at work that is concerning me about patron privacy so that has been occupying my brain. I am a staunch defender of patron privacy and Intellectual Freedoms, and I find it disheartening when these issues no longer become important to the institution, and librarians and library workers are afraid to speak out because they are afraid of losing their jobs. (I'm speaking generally here, not specifically about any library.) When library administrations and library boards become regime-like, when dissent is no longer tolerated, we are all in big trouble. Oh wait. We are all in big trouble.

I was originally hired as a branch librarian nineteen years ago. My library district was known throughout the United States for its patron service and its stance in Intellectual Freedom issues. That's why I came to work here. I was hired precisely because of who I am, because I spoke up, because I asked difficult questions, and because I was a good manager and I was great with the public. I loved my job. I became sick when a new carpet and new linoleum were put in my branch. I had to quit being a branch manager, and I continued my work as a selector, from home. The rest, as Sister Faye Mermaid would say, is...mystery.

I love libraries. I love the potential of libraries. I love that libraries can change the lives of individuals for the good. Just because the institutions and the people who run them and work there don't always live up to these high ideals doesn't mean I don't still love 'em.

But I'm not supposed to be on the computer...

I am making soup even as we speak. I had soooo many dreams last night. I hadn't slept the night before, or much the night before that, so last night I said I was going to bed at 10:00 p.m., which is when my naturopath says is the best time to go to bed, so I did that. (Okay, 10:15.) And every time I woke up in the night I made myself go back to sleep. In one dream a petulant child was really, really hungry and she just wanted to eat sheets of nori. I told her I would make her a soup: with mushrooms and onion and lots of sea vegetables. So guess what kind of soup I'm making for that petulant child in waking time?

(Beware: I'm about to do the equivalent of showing you pictures from my vacation...oh wait, I already do do that.) I also dreamed I lived in a frozen wasteland. Everything was frozen, my bed, my walls, my feelings, the people. I decided to leave this wasteland and go into a more watery juicy world. (I'm not kidding.) But someone tried to shoot me, so I was running for my life.

In another, I lived in this big trailer or mobile home. Huge! Originally six people were going to come with me, and then I allowed for another six. I went wandering around this town or fair or something and when I came back, the house/trailer had been taken over by all these obnoxious people. And they were partying and making a mess, and they wouldn't leave no matter what I did. I went back to the fair and called all the people from my home (via a loudspeaker) to come and meet me at this place. They came and I talked and said only the original people could come back. The invaders weren't very nice, and they refused to give up the house/trailer. We got on a bus to return to the house/trailer, with me resigned just to live with them and the situation. I got on first and stood near the driver. Then the first six got on near me, then the second six, then the invaders in back. The bus started forward and everyone was quiet.

Then I said, "Look, this is like a microcosm for what's happening on the planet. If we all go back there and live together the sewage will back up, the air will be foul. It won't be good for any of us." They didn't care! So I told the bus driver to stop. I said, "Well, I'm not going to be part of it." I stepped off the bus. I didn't look back. I heard people behind me so I thought my first six were following. I laid down on a big glorious rock to go to sleep. It was so nice. Two women did follow me, but they weren't from the bus. I didn't know them. I held them like they were my daughters. A policeman came to roust us, informing me that the two women were con artists.

I can't believe I told you the whole thing. Ah well. I'll be ashamed of using my blogosphere space up with this later. Right now I'm gettin' off the bus.

May You Dream in Beauty!

Labels: dreams, libraries, sleep

1 comments

1 Comments:

Although I'm not a librarian, I worked in the library world in the '80s and '90s, and share your love of libraries and their potential to change lives. I also am a fierce First Amendment advocate and continue to be outraged when my right to read what I choose is threatened. Thanks, too, for sharing your dreams -- I'm awed by your memory of them! Mine have been very active lately...but I recall only disjointed, senseless bits.

By Beth, at 9:54 PM  

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