Number 9..Number 9..

I don't know if I've mentioned this, but I have a lot of free time now. After the transplant, I couldn't return to work so I'm living on Social Security Disability. It covers the basics, but not much else.

Now, one of my hobbies that I'm still allowed (I can't smoke or drink anymore) is to read. After I got out of the hospital, I took to walking to the local library. I don't like to borrow books. I like to own them. I found out that the library puts books it no longer needs (usually because they wound up with more copies then they need) on sale - $.50 per paperback, $1 to $4 bucks for hardcovers. I went there maybe once every week or so.

Once I got my car, I expanded my library hunt and I'm now up to 4 in Woodbridge, 3 in Edison, 1 in Metuchen, 1 in Hazlet, and 1 in Shrewsbury. I hit Hazlet and Shrewsbury maybe once a month, and 2 of the Edison ones about as often. They don't really stock much for sale. The prices vary, and I've picked up hardcovers for as little as $.50. The drawback to this is that if I see a book I'd like to read, I have to buy it then, since there's no guarantee that it will be there the next time I come through. I've got approximately 100books piled up in my back room just waiting to be read, and I'm reading 2 at a time usually.

The day before yesterday, Wednesday, I was up early and decided to drive over to the main library in Edison. It opens at 9:30 as opposed to the others I visit which open at 10. It was a bright, sunny day, and as I pulled in to the parking lot I noticed an older man unloading boxes from a panel truck with the Edison library logo on it. New arrivals, I guessed, though there were quite a few boxes. Maybe supplies. I went in to check the sale racks. Nothing I was interested in.

When I came out, the older man was just ahead of me, and sat down on the floor in the back of the truck to take a break. I got into my car, and started the engine.

This library requires that you turn off your cell phone when you go in. I'd turned mine to vibrate, and was in the process of turning it back when I realized there was no one around. Just me and the old man in the back of the truck. Because of the way his back doors were open, he couldn't be seen unless you were directly in front of him. I took the Flasher from my back pocket, and moved the car out of the spot and towards the exit. As I came abreast of him I lowered the driver side window. I still didn't see anyone and there were no cars entering or exiting. The way the lot is situated, it's down a hill from the main road, behind the library, and there are no windows in the back overlooking it.

Point, push, Flash, and I drove up the hill, turned onto the access road, and headed toward Route 27. I had seen the old man droop over as I raised the window.

I didn't get a confirmation until I realized that I hadn't finished taking the phone out of vibrate mode. I debated going to the Metuchen library, but changed my mind and headed home. 3 more, and about 4 weeks to do it.