Over the last ten years I gradually came to know some women who live and work nearby. I've been surprised and overwhelmed by their physical and emotional and spiritual energies and their commitment to what's good and important in life. They do literally hold this community together.

I'm a fan of Studs Terkel, a man from Chicago who had his own radio show for decades. He interviewed hundreds of people and somehow, magically, got them to talk about their lives when most of them would shy away. Also, he's published books that contain the transcripts of these interviews. You would think a book like this would be boring but I've enjoyed reading his interviews very much.

His best interview is called "Why I Quit The Klan," the story of C.P. Ellis, a man from the south who at one time was the Grand Dragon (or something like that) in his chapter of the KKK. He evolved from that position into a man committed to friendship, fellowship, and teamwork with people of all races. I still cry when I read it. This is just my opinion, but I think that every American should read C.P. Ellis' story. It explains a lot.

Being a writer, I decided that I would be the next generation's Studs Terkel. I had an idea for a project; I would combine my love and admiration for the women I've met here with my desire to be a biographer. I would interview these women and try to publish a book about them. But as the people who read these blogs know, I made the decision to put my stories, ideas, and memoirs on this blog and circumvent the publishing establishment.

I'm going to tell these stories here, on Windfall.

Meet Karen Roszel, Children's Librarian, Bloomsburg Public Library

Being a life long reader, the first thing I did once we were settled was join the Bloomsburg Public Library. My husband is much more outgoing and friendly than I am and he soon knew all the librarians there, but I'm not like that. I need to take my time and gradually get to know people. I met Hal Pratt, head librarian, who takes his job very seriously and provides excellent library services despite the tiny budget he has to work with. However, I became gradually aware of Karen as well. She is similar to Hal in her commitment to her job. However, she combines a more lightweight attitude with seriousness. Her sense of humor is comic and sometimes ironic.
Here's something she said once to a little boy whose mother brought him to the library on Halloween:

Karen to Little Boy: Who are you this Halloween?

Little Boy: I'm a vampire.

Karen: Well. It's difficult when the effect has been mitigated by a snow suit.

(Which the little boy did not understand, of course, but the mother thought was funny.)

I don't know, maybe you had to be there to find this funny but I loved it.

Karen performs miracles every summer. She has established a summer reading program which is complex; but I do know that if children read a number of books they win awards in Karen's system, progressing through the summer. The walls of the children's library are covered with photographs of smiling young people, proudly holding medals and certificates.

The library is small, but Karen manages with very little help from a few volunteers to work with up to 60 children during the summer. Sometimes (and this is true) in the summer, sulking children and adolescents who would rather watch television and play games with electronic gadgets are driven to the library; they are practically shoved by their parents through the doors to attend Karen's unique program. The end result has been happy and contented young readers who proudly stand to have their pictures taken, having met their reading goals, displaying their gold ribbons.