Here is a fact: drinking a pumpkin spice latte in a tank top feels unnatural. I took dinner with a friend in Lexington a few weeks ago, and we lamented the irregular length and ruthless heat of summer 2019. She said, “We have brutal winters and brutal summers, for just once, can I get a brutal fall?” We turned our eyes toward a canopy of very, very, very green leaves clinging koala-like to their branches and wiped sweat from our brows. Not this year, friends. Not this year.
Fall is missing in action, but the holiday season is barreling toward us at breakneck pace. For me, the holiday season can feel like riding a popular roller coaster at Disney World; 98% preparation/waiting and 2% living/excitement. Every time it comes and goes, I’m sure I’ll do next year differently. Stress less. Enjoy more. Gosh, that sounds nice, but how?
If you’ll indulge me a few lines before we get into the nitty gritty of November details, I’ll share a 2% encounter that has me hopeful. Couple-friends of my folks are living with a difficult health prognosis and a radical lifestyle shift. For an emotional break, they hosted their adult children and grandchildren for a week’s vacation at the beach. They hired a photographer, ironed khaki clothing, and asked for “all natural poses.” When picture time came, the following hilarity ensued:
What the husband believes the photographer says: Whisper a vegetable to each other.
What the wife believed the photographer said: Whisper something sexy to each other.
Husband says: “Broccoli.”
Wife says: “Spank me, baby.”
(Reader: think Marilyn Monroe voice and remember THERE ARE GRANDCHILDREN PRESENT!)
What the photographer actually said: “Look at each other and say a vegetable in your sexy voice.”
Later, the wife, whom I did not know but can now genuinely hug, said, “Good gosh. Neither of us can hear! So he got the veggie part and I heard the sexy part and we both keeled over laughing while she took the picture.”
I’ve seen the photo, friends, and it’s a bonafide 2% moment, worth every 98% chaos and pain they’ve lived through in the last season. They will cherish that memory for the rest of their lives.
Now, there is no way for me to step into your shoes this season, but I can guess that some of you are also living with a hard prognosis, or maybe wondering how to pay for holiday gifts, or struggling with big questions, or curious if you’ll ever be married (or divorced), or sad about the loss of a relative, a pet, a friendship, or don’t know how to help aging parents, etc. For some of you, life is a never-ending 98% theme park line that leaves you thirsty for a 2% experience that makes the 98% valuable.
That’s where we step in. When we plan programs here, our goal is to cultivate events you’ll remember. We believe in more deep breaths. Laughter. Community. More learning. Possibilities. Creativity. You know…more sexy broccoli moments.
Our Speaking Series:
RJ Palacio, author of #1 New York Times Bestseller Wonder (also an Oscar nominated film starring Julia Roberts) will speak on her writing and life experiences surrounding the releases of Wonder and White Bird (her debut graphic novel). This night promises to inspire kindness from us all.
Tuesday, November 12, 6 p.m. at Knicely Conference Center
For Animal Loving Kids of all Ages:
1.Dinosaur World is coming to us.
This special presentation by our neighboring family theme park will provide fossils to examine and hands-on demonstrations and activities. Furthermore, November shall be renamed DINOvember and have many more dinosaur themed events you can learn about on our website.
Thursday, November 21, 4 p.m. at the Main Library
2. Nashville Zoo is coming to us.
The wonderful zoo staff will return with live exotic animals and amazing facts. The giraffes and hippos are unavailable, but you never know what creatures might show up to meet you.
Saturday, November 9, 2 p.m. at Bob Kirby Branch
Additional November/December Dates:
1. Polar Express Tickets Release
Most of you aren’t strangers to this upcoming December event, but if you’re new to Bowling Green, find additional information online. Note: these free tickets move like hotcakes.
Tuesday, November 5, 9a.m. to noon at the L&N Depot
2. The Polar Express Experience – December 2-5 & 9-12
3. Winter Reading Kick-Off Party – Sunday, December 1, 1 to 3 p.m. at SOKY Ice Rink
Sensational Snow Days starts with a free skating party, ice cream cake, and story times for your reading logs.
4. Winter Reading Dates: December 1-January 10
For the Early Christmas Shoppers:
1. A Night of Romance Panel
For the person on your holiday list who loves romance, we have a recommendation: Come listen to four New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors (Lorraine Heath, Lori Wilde, Sophie Jordan, and Cat Sebastian) discuss royal and holiday romance novels. (This, my friends, is when we loop back around to that sexy broccoli story.)
Monday, November 11, 6p.m. at Bob Kirby Branch
2. Holiday Makers Market
Celebrate Small Business Saturday at the library. 20+ local craftspeople will be selling art and offering inspiration to the entrepreneur and artist inside us all.
Saturday, November 30, 10 a.m. to 3p.m. at Bob Kirby Branch
I invite you—yes, you—to stop what you’re doing, grab whatever high speed or archaic tool you use to calendar family life, and pick one of these special events to attend. And then, when you arrive at one of our fabulous locations, take a deep breath, say “Hi” to a neighbor, and prepare to have your 2% stretched. (Also, I’m hoping for sweatshirt and cinnamon weather…)
-by Courtney Stevens
About the Author: Courtney Stevens is the Community Outreach Manager for Warren County Public Libraries. She is also the author of some well-known young adult fiction books including “Faking Normal” and “Dress Codes for Small Towns.” She can be reached at courtneys@warrenpl.org or 270-781-4882 x223 or check out her website at www.courtneystevens.com.