Of books and "someday" Jul16 '04
We (my parents) are having a garage sale today. And I have shelves full of books (novels) that I haven’t read. Should I sell them? Or is that pretty much just like "giving them away?"
I don’t want to sell them, because I feel that I will need and/or appreciate them some day down the road. But who lives for "someday"? It’s just an "abstract day in the future," that may or may not come. So why bother with "someday?"
I think I will just get rid of them. Simply because if "someday" ever comes (no Cure references intended), there should be thousands of other new books that can certainly keep me occupied. It’s almost like saving ketchup packets from that fast food restuarant that you always go to... because you think that you will need to use the ketchup packets for a future meal. But, in truth, that future meal (if it ever comes ;) will provide MORE new ketchup, and you realize you won’t ever need the reserves, so just dump them now.
Sell those ketchup packets. Well... in my case, books.
Having second thoughts
But they’re just so phenomenally resourceful! How can I ever get rid of something so full of ideas as a book? I’m reminded of that Simon and Garfunkel song, I am a Rock. There is a line in there that says something like, "I have my books, and my poetry to protect me."
Hmmm. This will certainly be hard. But I must give in.
Or should I just keep them?
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You're right... I can't "part with them" that easily. They are timeless entities. Sometimes just opening a book and reading a random page ma ... Read more.
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I say keep the books! You never know when you'll need or want them...or even better, when someone else may need or want them. The beauty of reading ... Read more.