FLASHBACK EXPERIENCE – Over the last several years I have developed the habit of keeping up with my reading via eBooks. In the last year I had developed an attachment to the works of David McCullough. I enjoyed his books on The Wright Brothers and the construction of The Panama Canal. I noted that he had a biography of Harry S. Truman and went looking for it. I couldn’t find it in any of my public library haunts. Amazon wanted $17. I finally figured out that the book came out about 25 years ago. I was going to have to get an actual (GASP!) paper version. The Ginter Park Branch called to say my book on Truman had arrived. I experienced the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff and the smell of books. Of course I almost needed help getting the book to the car. There were 962 pages of text and another 200-300 pages of reference material. I forgot books could be so heavy.

I had to renew it once but made it to the end by the second expiration date. I recommend it. I was born in the Roosevelt (Franklin) era and grew up during Truman and Eisenhower. I often would read of some event and think “that was a few days before my 8th birthday” or “two weeks after my 10th birthday”. I need to adjust to think of my life overlapping ancient history. There was a description of Mr. Truman in the last period of his life. I didn’t know if was something Truman said or some phrase by Mr. McCullough. It said Mr. Truman felt like “last leaf on the tree”. And so it goes.