Caveat Lector

I don’t talk about the details of work here—especially the more personal and social details—ever since I got strong hints from the Ruritanians that this was a thing Not Done in libraryland. But every rule has an exception, and this is that exception.

Most of Fenwick reference took me out to lunch today at everyone’s favorite Italian place. This was completely unnecessary (I mean, I’m not even in their department!), completely charming, and not unexpected at all, because the people in FenRef are just like that.

And as though that weren’t enough, they presented me with a gift bag packed absolutely to the gills with tidbits whimsical and useful, from a Mason Final Four pompon to a laminated campus map (just in case I forget) to a couple of stuffed critters in Masonwear to a…

“Oh, no,” I said as I pulled out one oddly-shaped parcel. “You didn’t. You DID NOT.”

See, okay, I have to explain this one. For the Fairfax Choral Society Christmas concert, we were directed to bring “festive headgear” to wear for the encore—anything from plush reindeer antlers to deelybobbers to light-festooned tiaras. Me? I walked into FenRef and saw that the Scream blowup doll (it’s that kind of office) had on a faux-poinsettia-festooned “Mason Patriot” tricorne hat, tasteful black trimmed with gold braid (like this one sans logo). I howled with laughter and asked to borrow the hat; I honestly think they didn’t think I’d wear it, but I sure ’nough did, returning it afterwards.

But now I have my very own Mason tricorne. Because they got me one. I love these people!

And because they took the trouble to know me a little and understand how I operate, they got me a great little Mason-emblazoned billfold gizmo on a keyring that’s perfect for putting my university ID and bus pass in. That was just pure thoughtfulness, and I wanted to cry.

So thank you, Jen and Mario and Michael and Sarah and Maureen and Joy and especially Jamie; you make me feel sad to go, but privileged to have been here.