I checked out of the hotel this morning and planned to walk to the Northampton bus station to save a few bucks, but as I was walking across the parking lot, I heard someone shout out to me, "Hey! Are you heading to campus?"
I turned around and saw a woman looking out of her car window. "No, I'm heading to the bus station," I said.
"Would you like a ride?" she asked.
"Sure!" I said. "Thank you so much!"
The Good Samaritan got out of her car, put my suitcase in her trunk, and helped me into her car. Her daughter was in the backseat in her little car seat. I would guess she's about four or five years old, and she was wearing a hot pink Smith sweatshirt. The woman was very sweet and told me she had made the same walk I was about to do so many times that she thought she'd help me out. I was touched by her kindness and thanked her profusely. She said she graduated from Smith in 2001 and was back for a conference. When we got to the bus station, she again got out of the car and pulled out my suitcase for me. I thanked her and shook her hand. Helen was her name, and I'll certainly remember her.
The ride to Lenox was pleasant and without any major difficulty. I had one transfer in Springfield, then rode to Lenox.
Lenox is located amid the mountains. As I looked out the window, I kept thinking about the mountain passages from Summer by Edith Wharton. As I thought about this book, images from the novel began to pop in my head, and then I thought more somberly about Wharton and the impact her books have had on me and my life. As a result, I was suddenly flooded with memories of high school, particularly eleventh grade. So many horrible memories came back to me, all as I remembered the circumstances in which I first read her books.
The truth is I discovered Wharton through Martin Scorsese's movie of The Age of Innocence - it's one of the few times I watched the movie before reading the book - and this was during the "early days" of having epilepsy. I read the book after watching the movie several times - I think I was about 15 years old - and felt as though I had made a new friend. The Age of Innocence is the kind of book you can read during multiple stages of your life, and reading it as a teenager, I most identified with the themes of being an outsider and an object of gossip.
As I thought about all of this, all while riding in a large bus through the beautiful mountains in Massachusetts on my way to visit Edith Wharton's home, I almost cried. It was overwhelming. Most of the time, I try not to live in the past, but today the past came back with a vengeance. Terrible, terrible memories flooded me to the point where it was difficult to enjoy the ride.
However, it all made me ponder the role of literature. What effects does it have on people? What is its purpose? What effects has it had on me, personally and professionally? I think in my case it has certainly been a protection, in some ways a succor, from so many events over which I have had no control and that have left indelible impacts on my life and life choices.
As the ride continued, I felt an odd mix of apprehension, sadness, excitement, and thankfulness. The mountains are so beautiful that I did take a picture while riding in the bus:
As we neared Lenox, my excitement mounted, especially after I saw a sign for The Mount. Although I could not see the estate from the window, I was thrilled just knowing I was in such close proximity to Wharton's dream house.
Lenox itself is a nice town, but it lacks the charm and beauty and practicality of Northampton. Lenox is very spread out, and the public transportation is not nearly as good. That being said, there are a number of buildings that still retain their original, nineteenth century architecture, which I find glorious.
The bus stop was on Main Street, which was right next to the public library. When I got off the bus, I had no idea where I was, nor where my hotel was, so I went to the place that made the most sense to obtain information: the library.
Lenox Public Library is absolutely beautiful. Next to Edinburgh Central Library in Scotland, it is the prettiest and most welcoming library I have ever been in. And the librarians were just as wonderful as the library itself.
I walked in with my bags and suitcase and went to the circulation desk, explaining that I am from South Carolina and have no idea where I am or where anything else is. They quickly got me a map, some information about The Mount, taxi phone numbers, and bus schedules. I was so appreciative of their kindness.
Jenney was the librarian who helped the most, and we had a great time talking. She gave me the history of the library: it is 201 years old and was built in 1815 as a courthouse, but was later converted into a library. I told Jenney that I am in library school, and she said she is, too. We talked about graduate school and becoming librarians, and she gave me some really great information about Edith Wharton and The Mount.
First, the Special Collections at the Lenox Public Library have a great deal of Edith Wharton material. Jenney told me to talk to their Special Collections librarian, and that she would probably let me look at some items. Also, Jenney used to work at The Mount and said that there is a woman there who, along with LPL's Special Collections librarian, cataloged all of Edith's personal books in her library! She told me to talk to the librarian when I'm at The Mount; she's sure we'll have lots to talk about. Lastly, she told me that there is a hill near the library that is rumored to be the inspiration for the tragic ending of Ethan Frome; evidently, such a sledding accident really did occur, and Edith used it for inspiration. Obviously, I look forward to asking about this at The Mount.
After talking with Jenney for a while, I decided to look around the library before calling the taxi.
This library is glorious! I can't stress it enough! I told Jenney that just walking in to this environment makes me want to sit in a comfy chair and read a book. Oh, and they have comfy chairs just for such an activity.
There are books everywhere, but there are also reading rooms. Here is the one for adults:
The children's section has its own reading room as well, only the children's one also has child chess tables. Pretty cute!
The entire library has this open, classic style. I felt at home here, especially when I went upstairs and found the adult fiction section. The shelves are labeled clearly, and they are easy to reach - to say nothing of the lovely atmosphere!
One thing I thought was subtle but so brilliant was that the bottom shelves have the books turned with their spines facing up. This way, you can simply look down to see what is on the bottom shelf. This is great both for practical purposes (no more squatting!) and for accessibility; this way, someone in a wheelchair does not have to ask for assistance in seeing what is on the bottom shelf.
The shelves also have their own lights! And none of that florescent stuff; this light is soft and perfect for reading.
Upstairs is also the audio visual part of the library and local history. I love how they kept some original furniture - and clocks! - in the library. And look at that stairwell!
Overall, I adored this library and really look forward to going back!
Tomorrow, I go to the Holy Grail of literary destinations, the one I've been dying to see for years: The Mount. All I can say in advance is brace yourselves for a few thousand pictures tomorrow night!
'Tis all! Good night!
Laura
