We grew peanuts in the Pendleton Community Garden. A couple of days ago, we dug up a small handful of peanuts, and I cracked them out of the shell and ate them...raw. They tasted like fresh peas, with a hint of horseradish. I've never tasted anything quite like it, and I realized that I had never eaten a raw peanut.
Back in August when we hosted our Silly Safaris program, I petted an armadillo named Spud. Before that, I had never petted an armadillo. And, that same month, I gave blood at the library's blood drive. I'd never done that before either. I got to thinking about all of the cool opportunities that a job at the library has offered to my staff and me over the years.
Here is just a small sampling of experiences we've had at the library in recent years: ghost hunting, playing the ukulele, meeting favorite authors, petting a bona fide sled dog, participating in parades, breaking out of escape rooms, racing and eating worms (not at the same event), making glowing Frankenpickles, holding Thor's hammer and wearing the helmet from the first Thor movie, petting a python, watching James Alexander Thom dance to a live drummer, learning to knit, and playing life-sized Clue and Monopoly.
We are always so focused on what we offer for our patrons that I think we often lose sight of what our jobs offer to us as staff members. And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go play with a robot. I've never done that before.
Lynn Hobbs
PCL Director
