Went to the library sale today in Omaha and got to meet up with Kookiejar again. It was fun, but a bit tempered because of the Omaha Mall killings. The branch where the sale is held is just a few blocks from the mall. I don’t usually go there because it’s about 35 minutes from my house, and there’s a closer one in Council Bluffs; but I probably would have been there today if it hadn’t been for the shootings. Earlier in the week I had planned to go to that particular mall today to look for an outfit for my husband’s company Christmas party. If the shooter had gone there today instead of Wednesday. . . well, I don’t want to think about that.
I don’t know if any of you read my post last September about the Fall library sale, but Kookiejar and I went to Panera to have lunch when we were done book shopping. That day we were going to take a shortcut through Von Maur (the store where the shootings occurred) to get to Panera (we didn’t, though, because they were closed due to electrical problems). That could have happened again today. It could have been one of us. It could have been someone we know. It’s scary to think about.
While I don’t usually get too frightened saying, “What if. . . “, incidents like these really make one reflect and realize how precious life is, and how we should make the best use of it with the time we’re given.
Here were some of the books I got:
Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Felicia’s Journey by William Trevor
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Teaching a Stone to Talk by Annie Dillard
Into the Web by Thomas H. Cook
The Murmur of Stones by Thomas H. Cook
A Celibate Season by Carol Shields and Blanche Howard
Prisons We Choose to Live Inside by Doris Lessing
Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr
Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally
A good haul for only 50 cents each.
Amen to that.
I never did find out what you ended up buying. I posted my list as you saw, so spill it, sister.
I think we must have been posting about the same time! See my list above.
I either have or have read most of these…but not the Cook books (heh, cookbooks). Good job.
Kookiejar, Thomas H. Cook is a mystery author who writes in more of a literary style. I think you’d like him.
Michelle-
I forgot that you were near Kookie. So glad that you and yours are safe & sound.
How scary. I feel so sorry for all those innocent people. I know it’s better not to think of the what-ifs but it’s hard not to right?
Anyway good to hear you were able to at least go out today and enjoy your library sale.
Thanks for the comment on my blog re: The Golden Compass. I’d really love to hear your opinion after you work through it with your boys! Make sure to let me know if you do that!
My mother sometimes says that “life spins on a hair.” Of course, with faith, we trust He is in control. But, sometimes, it’s hard not to be scared. I’m so glad that you are safe.
And, I’m praying for the devestation in the other families.
OK, those snowflakes are the coolest things.
It is scary how life can take unexpected twists, like sudden car accidents and shootings. I’m glad you two are able to get out together and enjoy the day, sounds like paradise to me!