I feel I may be cursed in libraries. Ohhh, but I love them so!
I used to watch The Mummy over and over again and watch with glee and envy when Rachel Weisz's character, Evie, stood up in her drunken stupor and proclaimed: "I am .... a LIBRARIAN!"
There are several professions that I could see myself in that would make me equally as happy. I used to want to be a dancer, but those days are long gone (along with the many hours of formal training!). I still dance, yes - I love to! And I even still take dance classes. If I had a daughter, I would be that mom that would take her to her dance class and let the teacher know, "Yes... *I* used to dance... at one time." I would be like that annoying parent that lets their theater major child know that they get their skills from them because, clearly, that one high school production that they recited one line in made them an infamous thespian.
(Funny story: My own father told a similar story to me. He was in a play in grade school and he said he had one line that he had to recite when he entered the stage: "Entering ..... the Handsome Duke!" I honestly think he might have made it up, though my mom and I found it equally hilarious and from that day forward called him Duke. And whenever he'd enter a room, he'd announce his arrival: "Entering ..... the Handsome DUKE!" Really, Dad?)
I thought about dropping theater altogether and trying something more daring and more time consuming overall: Archaeology with an emphasis in Egyptology. Everyone that knows me knows that I have a huge fascination with anything Ancient Egypt. I even ordered several books on Amazon on anything Egypt that I could possibly delve into, also watching multiple documentaries and going to the History Channel's and National Geographic's websites.
After thoroughly studying and reviewing how King Tutankhamun's body was desecrated when they found his tomb, I realized that I could never disturb someone's resting place, especially ancient kings and queens. Too much bad karma and juju. So, I continued on my path, while still nosing in both fiction and non-fiction books on multiple Egyptian topics.
Another historical aspect that I find interesting is Vlad the Impaler's life, as well as Eastern European folklore. One of my favorite novels is Dracula. I have several copies of Dracula, each with a different cover - some designed by great artists. Yes, I am well aware that Bram Stoker didn't exactly use Vlad as his inspiration, but the implicated connection is there. I love that there are stories all over Europe about the infamous Wallachian and many myths about his torture methods of his enemies, or in most stories, anyone that dared test him.
I continued, all through childhood and into adulthood, shoving my nose in many books and developing my interests through multiple literary outlets.
Now, as I struggle again to find a path that I can stick to (my own personal yellow brick road, if you will), I am thinking, What's more powerful than a librarian?
If you would have asked me that a month ago, I would say "Nothing!!" But, as I study my interests and re-read all I've written on just this blog alone and as I remember how I would passionately tell patrons about topics that they've shown a similar interest to (and sometimes coming up empty-handed: "We don't own this?? WHY NOT??"), I'm thinking - the answer has been right in front of me.
On my quest to finding what I, Sarah, want to be when I grow up, I'm realizing that I want to be a student. I want to be a teacher. I want to be a writer. I want to be ..... a Historian.
Whether amateur or professional, historians are always learning, always writing, always reading, always talking about languages (another thing I'm good at picking up), folklore, literature, weaponry, historical figures, kings, queens, Eastern Europe, Ancient Egypt, Medieval Times, torture devices, etc. etc. etc.
What's more powerful than a librarian?
Knowledge.
Whether I'm in school and decide to get my MLIS or a PhD in History or whether I decide to be self-taught, self-educated, I shall continue to read. Because what's more powerful than all of that is the knowledge and the will to want to do better. To continue to walk into a library and read, read, read, learn, learn, learn.
On I shall continue. On I shall march. With my head held high and a book in my hand (or many books). Knowledge.
معرفة
знания
kennis
γνώση
connaissance
bilgi
cunoștințe
maarifa
conocimiento
ידע
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