fines

Things That Went Right Today:

1) got an early start on some Christmas shopping

2) cleared up my library account

3) yummy leftovers for lunch instead of the usual sandwich

Ok so I admit it. I skipped out on library fines. When we moved away from Ashburn suddenly last spring I had an overdue library book. "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley. I had not had the chance to read it yet, and with the frantic nature of our move a trip to the library to return it was not on the agenda. I figured I would deal with it once the move was over. But the trouble is that the book got stuck in a box and I did not know which one. It sat in a box all summer and when it became clear that we would be moving back to Ashburn in the Fall I left the boxed items alone and planned to sort things through once we got to the new house. In the back of my mind though I felt guilt. I knew that library book was in there racking up fines and fees right? Fast forward to Fall and the move. We hauled the boxes over, but only unpacked the ones we most needed. After so much moving we just ran out of steam and there still are many unpacked boxes in my garage as we speak. Every now and then that book would sneak into my mind and pangs of guilt would hit, but I would quickly shoo those thoughts away. Well I tried anyway, but you can't run away from your own mind. I knew I should go take care of it. I knew that odds were it would be a very long time if ever before that book resurfaced. But I was worried that the fines were super high after so much time. More than that I pictured a very stern librarian scolding me for my delinquency. My solution? Just never go to the library again. Problem solved. NOT! I felt like a fugitive every time I drove past. Ducking and hiding...from whom I don't know. It's not like they know me personally there, but still. A few times for book club I wanted to go and check out a book but convinced myself that I couldn't. I kept faking my head out with the notion that I would unpack a dozen boxes to find the book again, but never did. Finally it happened. A book I needed was not at the bookstore. I had to go to the library. Gasp! Time to face the music, so I dragged my trembling self down there. I took a deep breath and told the librarian my sad story. I cringed waiting for her scorn, but oddly, she smiled at me and said it was no trouble at all. I emphasized to her the magnitude of my tardiness and asked how severe the fine was. Again she smiled and informed me that in Loudoun County they no longer issue fines for overdue books. If a book was late you simply could not check out another one until the book was returned or paid for if lost. What??? No fine? Really? After 6 months? Could it be real? Again I bravely asked what the replacement fee was for the book...fearing the worst. She smiled again and told me that since it was an older paperback the fee was only $3.95 to cover the book. I happily paid the money and then cautiously asked if I would ever be allowed to check out books here again after my past behavior. This time she laughed and said that I most assuredly could. I skipped over to the shelves with a lighter step and demeanor than I had walked in with and discovered that they did not have the book club book I needed. So what did I check out instead? Why "Frankenstein" by, Mary Shelley of course. They had two other copies on the shelf. But now I felt less like the monster in the book and more like myself again. Only $3.95 to unload that burden? I can't help but marvel how easy it was to fix a problem once I set out to do it. I had made it bigger and scarier in my mind than it actually was and held myself back for such a long time for no good reason. Today I am grateful for a kind librarian and the chance to clear my good name for only $3.95. I will carry this lesson with me in my heart for the next time I feel I have something I need to clear up...no matter what it may be. Probably it will be easier to fix than I initially fear, and it is worth paying any price to have a clean conscience.