Born and raised in Boone County, my first job ever was at McDonald’s. Let’s just say it didn’t work out very well. My second job was at Boone County Public Library as a page in 1984. At the time, Florence was the one and only library in Boone County.  In 2014, life came full circle and I returned to the Florence Branch as a circulation assistant. In between, I graduated from Morehead State University, married my husband (whom I met when we worked at the library together our senior year of high school), ran a freelance writing business for 20+ years and gave birth to both of my children.
 
David and I celebrated 26 years of marriage last June. Austin, 22, graduates from Eastern Kentucky University in May. Kendall, 16, is a junior at Conner High School, my alma mater.
 
The precipitating event that resulted in my return to the library happened when my biggest client of 20 years eliminated the online newsletter I had been writing. When I started my job search, one of my first thoughts was the library. Serendipitously, a position was available.
 
As a lover of books, I am well-suited for working at the library. I learned how to read in first grade and haven’t stopped since. Until high school, I carried a book with me every day grabbing any spare minute to read. As a circulation assistant, I handle regular duties like checking books in and out, helping people find books, providing basic computer help, etc. In addition, I have been given the opportunity to carve out my own position at the library. I create a monthly book display, and coordinate two book clubs hosted at Florence, Mondays 4 Mystery and Best of the Best. Running the book clubs is definitely my favorite thing about the job. Many years ago, I remember wishing someone would pay me to discuss books, and now they do!  I select the books that will be read in each club and run the monthly meetings. I am fortunate to have a core group of ladies who attend both book clubs. I consider them friends.
 
On a personal note, my husband and I love to travel. For our 25th anniversary, we spent two weeks driving through the United Kingdom. We spent most of our time in England, but also visited Wales and Scotland. I have always been a bit of an Anglophile (my first visit was the summer between my junior and senior years of college), but I fell in the love with the country even more after our trip. The Tower of London, Stonehenge and Alnwick Castle (where parts of the first two Harry Potter movies were filmed) were definitely a few of the highlights. After visiting Edinburgh, After visiting Edinburgh, while watching a scene in Avengers: Infinity War that was filmed in the city, I found myself much more caught up in the background than the action. I kept thinking, “I’ve been there.” “I remember that street.” The
United Kingdom is absolutely beautiful and the people are so friendly. As soon as the trip was over, David and I wanted to go back.
 
Last year David, Kendall and I traveled to California. We flew into San Diego and then drove up the coast to San Francisco. Santa Barbara is one of our new favorite places – the mountains, the ocean, the climate.  When we win the lottery, that’s where we will buy a house! Alcatraz was very interesting. I was, however, disappointed that they didn’t have a sign next to Al Capone’s cell.
 
We saw redwoods in Big Basin Redwoods Park and the seals in La Jolla Cove. One of Kendall’s favorite parts of the journey was visiting Hearst Castle and playing on the beach in San Simeon. The Warner Brothers studio tour in Los Angeles was a highlight for all of us. Seeing Jorja Fox of CSI fame during dinner at a little Thai place in LA was quite exciting. I swear I also saw Kevin Bacon at the grocery store next door. He was walking in as Kendall and I were waiting for David on the sidewalk outside. He and Kyra Sedgwick do have a place nearby, so definitely could have been him.
 
Our next adventure will include the whole family as we travel Down Under to Australia this summer. Details and photos to come.