Rites of Spring (Lynn Kerstan)

In Coronado, we don’t have seasons. Although weather patterns change a bit, grass stays ever green, few trees go bare, and flowers of one sort or another are always in bloom.

But in March, a frenzy grips this "village" of 26,000 people. The annual judging of gardens is just weeks away. Pickup trucks carrying gardeners and equipment and flats of flowers roll into town.

At my apartment complex, thousands of Impatiens are planted. Shrubs are shaped, trees are spiffed up. By mid-April, nearly every lawn and garden is a showpiece. And by mid-April. many windows boast blue or red or white ribbons as a tribute to the citizens who beautify our community. My landlord got a blue ribbon, as he usually does.

This weekend there’s a flower show as well, with music, entertainment, and an art walk. But the best part, for me, is the annual Book Sale by the Friends of the Library.

Not that I need any more books! In fact, to make room for new additions, I have to haul books I already have down to the library and donate them to the sale. Just so I can go and buy new (used) ones.

Like other Friends of the Library, I’m admitted to the Preview Sale on Friday, which is how I spent yesterday afternoon. It’s the thrill of the hunt that calls to me, the instinct of the gatherer to join the harvest. And this year, the sale offered more than 75,000 books, not to mention music cds, tapes, audiobooks, and movies.

For once, I imposed some quite unnatural self-discipline. I would carry only two moderate-sized canvas bags. And I would walk to the park where the sale took place. No nearby car to stow my stash and go back for more. Whatever I bought would have to be lugged home.

By the time I got there, at least 200 people were already lined up. Some had brought pull carts, rolling suitcases, and even little red wagons. Competition for the Good Stuff would be fierce.
I headed first to the VCR tables, hoping to score some Sharpe’s Rifles episodes. None to be had, alas, although I found an audio book of Sharpe’s Escape. Healthier choice, really, because I only listen to audio books when I take long walks. I’ll miss looking at Sean Bean, though.

And I got a J.D. Robb audio book as well, which will be a treat. I also picked up VCRs of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Touring Scotland, and Touring Royal Castles and Stately Homes of England.

Then to music, but that section was a polite madhouse. I came away with two Sting cds, and tapes by Emmy Lou Harris, Judy Collins, and Simon & Garfunkel in Central Park. A blast from my past.

I also found a VCR called Basics for the Acoustic Guitar Player and a book (dating from 1959) of guitar chords. My guitar has been in its case since 1984, and I was always a lousy player. Most people didn’t notice because I sang good songs and have a loud voice. Back in the day, I helped pay for my education with singing gigs. Now, soon as I buy new strings and work up the nerve to get started, I mean to relearn some of the music I still love. Neighbors, beware!

I had resolved to buy no new fiction, what with a towering To-Be-Read Pile practically engulfing my small living space. But I couldn’t resist wandering through the section that must have held 50,000 paperbacks. Found a Susan Elizabeth Phillips I had somehow missed. Also a Loretta Chase. Couldn’t resist a couple other temptations as well. OK, several others.

Then the discovery of the third volume of a Carol Berg fantasy trilogy sent me on a long and futile hunt for volume two. Mind you, I’ve been reading volume one in fits and starts for the better part of a year. Love it, really, but I keep getting distracted with contest judging, teaching, and my own writing. Will finish it, I have promised myself, on the long flights to and from Memphis next month. And to that end, I ordered volume two from Amazon tonight.

Finally, I stopped by the travel section and got Fodor travel guides for Peru and Arizona. My current work-in-progress has important scenes set in both places, and there are lots of pesky details to be looked up.

I resisted a dozen wonderful books about England, for which I had a great lust but no place to put them. A wonderful book about the Incas was squeezed onto the last bit of space in my tote bags, leaving me no choice but to check out.

Let me tell you, trundling home with those heavy bags after three hours of crowded shopping was no treat. But I’m thrilled with my haul. And at a mere $31.50 for all these treasures, I made out like a bandit! Now I just have to find some place to stow everything I bought.

Cat Update: Relapse. Or should that be Catlapse? After nearly four days of apparently full recovery last week, Lymond is again having problems with his hind legs. We still don’t know what’s causing the trouble. Poor little guy. Send good thoughts his direction, please.