Today I discovered that my chapbook is part of the Ripon College Library collection; its catalog record is now in WorldCat, "the world's largest library catalog."
In years working in libraries I sometimes enjoyed searching for the names of my accomplished friends in WorldCat. These would be individuals I socialized with during my students days at Wisconsin and Texas, people I drank coffee with, discussed class assignments with, pondered future directions with. Dated. Whenever I found a record of their accomplishment I felt awed to know anyone in this catalog of world writers, thinkers, and creatives.
It felt a little like watching a friend's ovation from backstage. I wasn't exactly jealous; I was proud, happy for their success, but wondered if it would ever be my turn, if I'd ever find a way to write a book. In my field, a Ph.D. was neither necessary, helpful, or affordable, and my dream of writing creatively wasn't going anywhere. I stayed stuck for decades, but there was always a book ahead of me. I couldn't leap the gap, but I could imagine it, envision it, feel certain of it. Moving back to Wisconsin made all the difference. I began to write.
To Ripon College's Lane Library, thank you.
To those long-ago friends who encouraged me, and to those new friends who presently do the same, thank you.
So happy for you!