"B" Stands for Books--and Boston and Bucket Lists and Boats!

What do you do when it rains and you had plans for an outdoor activity?  That's what happened this past Saturday.  My wife Linda and I had taken my mother to Boston to ride the swan boats at Boston Public Garden.  The swan boat ride was on her bucket list.  It is something she always did when she went to Boston back in the days when she lived in new England, and she wanted to go one more time.  But it rained.  All day.  And the swan boats weren't even running.  So we went to Plan B.  Literally.  For in our family, "B" stands for "books"!

We were spending the day with our daughter Elizabeth, her partner Erica, and our two Boston granddaughters.  Elizabeth is a librarian, and of course, mother a retired English professor, a medievalist.  In her youth her father had taken her into Boston one day so that she could meet the Head Librarian at Boston Public Library.  And even though she didn't end up being a librarian herself, she always has treasured that memory.  So our first stop was the Boston Public Library.  It is a beautiful example of a well maintained older structure, with a wonderful modern addition.

One of the highlights of the tour was seeing the Abbey Room.  It is ringed by beautiful murals depicting the legend of Sir Galahad.  Mother and our youngest granddaughter were especially intrigued with it--and Mom had a great time explain the story and the paintings.

Our next stop was the Cambridge Public Library where Elizabeth works.  We met many of her co-workers and marveled at the charm of the Curious George Room, with its paintings taken from the famous books by the same name.  It turns out H. A. Rey, the author of those beloved children's books, and his wife Margaret lived in Cambridge and were most generous with the library.

Our final stop of the afternoon was--a bookstore!  The Porter Square Bookstore.  A funky, cramped, delightful independent bookstore.  Linda and I treated the granddaughters and Mother to a new book each.  The girls got Fatal Throne and Dork Diaries, and Mother a replacement copy of her beloved Little Women (she had accidently given it away when she moved to Florida).

The whole afternoon was a delight--despite the rain!  And if the plaque in Mother's bedroom is right, it was touched by the divine.  The plaque?  "Heaven" is reads, "Must Be  Library!"

PS:  She did get her swan boat ride as well on Monday--a lovely sunny Monday!