Books, Books, Books

Books in a book market in June 2009, near Saint Sulpice

“… for some of us, books are as important as almost anything on earth.

What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid, squares of paper

unfolds world after world after world,

worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you.

Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave.

They show us what community and friendship mean;

they show us how to live and how to die….

An author makes you notice, makes you pay attention, and this is a great gift.”

(Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, pages 14-15)

Hello Readers!

I wanted to let you know about something special going on on Paris this coming weekend.

WHAT: a book sale where one can buy paperbacks for only a euro and hardcovers for 2€

WHEN: Sunday, March 25, 2012, noon to 4 pm

WHERE: Orrick Law Offices, 31, avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie, 75016, Paris

WHY: The semi-annual book sale is one of the main fundraisers for the volunteer organization SOS Help, an English-language emotional support line for the international community in France.

Since 1974, SOS Help has been “listen[ing] to callers speaking about issues as wide-ranging as loneliness, depression, health concerns, bereavement, money problems, unemployment, difficulties with friends or family, or substance abuse.” Anonymous and confidential, the listening line is staffed from 3 pm to 11 pm every day of the year by volunteers who are trained by professionals “to provide empathetic, supportive, and non-judgmental listening to anyone going through a difficult or painful life experience.” (quotes from the SOS Help Facebook Info page linked above. For more information, also see their website: SOS Help)

I can’t imagine a more fun thing to do on a Sunday afternoon than to shop for inexpensive books and help out a very worthy organization at the same time. In fact, to inspire you, just check out this haul that Sion of Paris (Im)perfect came away with last October during the fall sale in her post Books, Glorious Books!

I am going this year with a really big bag and some babysitting cash in pocket. In fact, one wee one I watch has parents that volunteer for this organization, and they are really swell people. I’m happy to put some of my earnings back to an organization they support. Full circle, pay-it-forward, All That Jazz. Result? I get to read more in the process. Also, if you have books you would like to donate, you can take them with you! Lighten your load!

Can’t come to Paris to participate? Well, find something you can do in your community this weekend to support a worthy cause.

So, how am I seizing the day of late? How am I taking care of myself? Read on to find out what I have been up to in trying to accomplish these two goals.

Season’s Greetings!

Métro Jourdain (L11), sortie rue de Belleville (20th arr), 20 December 2010

A very Métro — I mean, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to all you readers out there!

I hope that everyone is having a spectacular Solstice, I hope that that Hanukkah was happenin’, that your Festivus will be fantastic, and that Kwanzaa is completely creative, cooperative, and community-driven (q.v. Kwanzaa principles).

Okay, that right there is the “short version” of this blog. The long version is coming right up. Get your coffee, or should I say café, or vin chaud, a tisane or heck, a Diet Coke, eh? Come back, and sit down, and read. I have a lot on my mind, and was stalling on writing a post because I just could not choose what I was going to focus on, so you are going to get the smörgåsbord of blog posts. You know, the kind of one where I break all the blogging “rules” and am all over the place for around (over???) 3,000 words. One of those. (A warning: I am committing a HUGE blog no-no, and pretty much blogging the entire month here. Just giving you fair warning. I’ve tried to divide it up so you can take it in chunks, haha.)

If you are not much of a reader, please press on to at least peruse the pretty pictures. There are some good ones of holiday scenes at the end. 🙂