Mom, Pt. 2

Mom tried her hand at several different lines of work before finally finding her true passion. As previously mentioned, she worked in some government department during WWII as a decoder of some sort and she worked in an insurance office after the war. Before the war, during college, she worked in the laundry. I'm guessing she did other things that I don't know about.

Sometime after I was born she got her real estate license, became a notary public, and did some substitute teaching. I remember going with her to one of the schools once (I guess she had to pick up or drop off something). She took me into the classroom. In one corner was a dunce cap!

Then, when Sissy was 16 or 17, Mom decided it was time for her (meaning Sissy) to get a job. So she went to the library to pick up an application. However, instead of giving it to Sissy, she filled it out herself. And thus she found her true calling in life at the age of 48. She began working at the Blount County Public Library in 1970. By 1975 she'd earned her M.L.S. and had been appointed Director.

At that time the library was in this very cool old brick building across the street from Daddy's store (The building now houses Dandy Lion's Gifts). What a life I had! I could hang out at the store, "work" there, go on deliveries, play, shoot hoops, then mosey on over to the library to hang out and read. I felt so special being able to visit Mom there! Going to the library in the summer was especially fun because the children's section was down the awesome winding staircase in the basement and it was cool, temperature-wise. (There was no air conditioning in the building.) I remember one summer joining the reading program and reading every single Hardy Boys book in the series.

Mom was a forward-thinking person and was instrumental in developing and implementing the Friends of the Library. That legacy is huge. She also oversaw the library's move into a larger building (that now houses city or county offices). Most importantly, however, she was a staunch champion of keeping controversial books on the shelves. She was adamantly opposed to censorship. In this way, she was a True Librarian and my hero.

Really, I can't tell you how proud I was that she was my Mom. She was well-liked and respected and loved by many. Every time I visited her at the library I felt proud. I'm not just exercising my Southern right to hyperbole, either. I was proud.