Well, my summer library job has just morphed into a permanent year-round position.
I'm pretty relieved. No more scrambling to find yet another odd job to support my writing habit until I become rich and famous and immortalized in the halls of literary fame.
Yet I don't need Daughter #1 to remind me (though no doubt of course she will) that this latest employment opportunity only serves to clinch my place in the annals of future Crazy-Old-Lady status.
Before, I was just going to be that Weird-Woman-Down-the-Street. You know, the one who lives all alone, with all those cats (for the record, I have only 5 cats, but the way some people talk, you'd think there were at least 20)? I mean, it wasn't like I was some eccentric old spinster librarian or something.
Except now I kind of am. Maybe not full time, and minus the Masters in Library Science, but close enough.
Although I'm not sure if one can actually be considered "a spinster" if one was once married. Or if a sexist word like spinster is any longer even considered politically correct.
Probably not, in which case I can be the Eccentric-Old-Lady-Librarian-Divorcee. However "divorcee" sounds rather racy and provocative, and therefore probably doesn't jive with the whole "librarian" personna.
Or does it?
I think it's time to cast aside stereotypes. Or maybe, just start a whole new stereotype. What do you say to a Brilliant, Single, Writer/Librarian who loves all animals and dances on tables when the notion strikes?
I'll let you know, but I think we might be onto something...
See, I've always envied the librarians because I've assumed they get to read the new books first. What a great job! To spend all day with books!
I say this as someone who was a spinster until she was 44 and who didn't have cats yet but knew she would eventually become the crazy cat lady on the corner.
Posted by: class factotum | October 16, 2009 at 09:47 AM
Congrats on your full time library position. As for dancing on the tables... one can always do that in their mind. Might be the reason for 'secret' smiles on people's faces...they're far away from the present being crazy and fun. :)
Posted by: Joan | October 16, 2009 at 09:48 AM
I think you're on to something!
Posted by: Erin@TheLocalsLoveIt | October 16, 2009 at 09:57 AM
Oooo! I think I will fit the profile. I am a librarian and a widow. I don't have a cat...yet.
Posted by: Sandi | October 16, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Love it!
Posted by: Uppity | October 16, 2009 at 11:20 AM
The AARP thinks you are just fine....http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/single_women.html
Posted by: LPC | October 16, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Frankly, I think it's PERFECT for you.
I'll join you on the table.
Posted by: Jan | October 16, 2009 at 11:28 AM
"Brilliant, Single, Writer/Librarian who loves all animals and dances on tables when the notion strikes?" YES
And I'll join you and Jan on the table.
Posted by: Pseudo | October 16, 2009 at 12:23 PM
I love books! LOVE Them. LOVE THEM! I almost always have a book attached to my hands. I don't know if I could be a librarian, b/c you have to be way. too. quiet in a library, but otherwise...
I'm happy for you!
Posted by: ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ | October 16, 2009 at 12:57 PM
You just snagged my dream job! Congratulations! Have you read "Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian?" You'll have to share with us some of YOUR quirky, insider's stories!
Posted by: Jane | October 16, 2009 at 02:02 PM
You are flat out wonderful. I always loved the crazy lady down the road with broken windows and too many cats.
And, oh my, AND you live on Martha's Vineyard? Please. When can I move in?
Posted by: Charmaine | October 16, 2009 at 04:28 PM
Fantastic gig. My sister is a librarian - we have some family librarian jokes.
I'm sure we all fit a stereotype of some sort. I always have a laugh when people assume something about me and are surprised that I'm not what they think.
Posted by: Erin | October 16, 2009 at 07:03 PM
How about sexy divorcee who gets turned on by the written word? That makes you sound like a challenge!
Posted by: Sprite's Keeper | October 16, 2009 at 09:00 PM
I like cougar, but you don't. Oh well..
Posted by: Ocean Girl | October 16, 2009 at 10:42 PM
I've always liked the eccentric librarian lady in my books. She's always led an interesting life and is rather mysterious because everyone whispers but no one really knows much about her. and the cats are cool.
Posted by: Joanie M | October 16, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Hubby has been calling me "Crazy-Old-Lady" for years, I think it suits me. I wonder if he would like "Crazy-Old-Man"? LOL
Posted by: Heather | October 17, 2009 at 01:11 AM
Just wanted to pop in to tell you again how much I love your blog. There’s an award waiting for you at mine!
Posted by: Jane | October 17, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Now I'm picturing you in a Van Halen Video...
Posted by: Ann | October 17, 2009 at 01:49 PM
How fantastic for you. Would absolutely love a job like that. Can you post a little video of you dancing on the table? That would be just great!!!!!
Posted by: Gloria Carrington-Ferrira | October 18, 2009 at 02:23 PM
Congratulations! Besides, what's wrong with being a spinster? : )
Posted by: Twenty Four At Heart | October 18, 2009 at 08:48 PM
Lucky! Lucky! Lucky! I love the library. If I could do it all over again, I might do that. Being surrounded by all those wonderful books. Heaven!
Posted by: Kimberly | October 19, 2009 at 12:21 AM
Sounds good to me.
Posted by: passions and soapboxes | October 19, 2009 at 05:07 AM
Sweetie,
With your hair down and your gorgeous face, dancing on a table ANYWHERE will take away all spinster-ish thoughts from anyone on the East Coast!
Besides...you've had children...I think Madonna is more fitting....
Posted by: kathryn | October 19, 2009 at 06:26 AM
I would LOVE to be a librarian...and I'm about the coolest thing around. No ego here, right?!
Posted by: Jill | October 19, 2009 at 10:31 AM