42nd & Grace

As you age, Christmas becomes a bit more nostalgic. After tucking into a big meal, grazing on snacks, and lounging in matching holiday pajamas, the question of “best gift ever” inevitably comes up. And the answers are almost always about something unwrapped decades ago – a cherished memory tied to a moment under the tree.

Except for me.

Christmas was good. Plenty of fond memories — especially the annual party at Aunt Carol’s — and the spirit still returns year after year. But I can’t name a single gift that truly stands out.

Then, after a bit of chin‑stroking, it hit me: the greatest gift I ever received was the love of reading.

My mom wasn’t a “learned” person, and neither was my dad, who had a knack for fixing things that led to his long career at the General Electric plant in Barrie (now a mall). But, back to my mom. She loved to read. Coffee, smoke and a book — that was her idea of quiet time.

Looking back, reading was always part of my life. If I had to choose a physical present that resonated, it would be my World Book Encyclopedia set. I adored those books. Rainy days? Read ’em. Sick days? Read ’em. Avoiding bedtime? Read ’em.

Put a newspaper in front of me and I’ll devour it cover to cover. An industry magazine on dairy farms? Gone in one sitting. Pamphlets at the doctor’s office? That’s where I learned vaccines are good. When information became a click away, the rabbit holes multiplied. Prince Philip was also a Greek royal? What happened to the Hellenic king? And Spain’s General Franco handpicked the next king, skipping the heir and choosing his son. Fascinating.

Useless trivia became a trademark. So did the growing collection of books that became very expensive and very heavy to move. At one point, I needed a three‑bedroom apartment just to store them, most still in U‑Haul boxes. Slowly, I started letting them go and now only a handful remain.

That led to a rediscovery of one of the greatest – and most overlooked – community assets: the library.

Pros: free membership, old favourites to revisit, new books to discover, quiet study areas, inter‑library loans, multimedia options, e‑books, magazines, children’s programs, and more.

Cons: none.

Worry: it’s too easy to take for granted.

When politicians look to address community concerns, no one is shouting for more librarians. In the binary choice between community safety and community education, safety usually wins.

Hopefully, the coalition of municipalities that make up the Okanagan Regional Library system can continue to provide a strong foundation to keep the doors open and collections growing. Niche materials are one of the joys – and advantages – of free spaces to roam and read.

The library is uniquely positioned to serve a person from almost‑cradle to almost‑grave. And the interactions should always be positive. Libraries are a gift we all need to appreciate a little more.