Books. Books. Books.

Moving into the house in Barstow (whose nickname hasn’t come to me yet, so for now it’s just “the house”), one task took longer than all the others combined.

Putting my books up.

I have lots of them. I haven’t counted, but I’m sure it’s over 1000. I have a whole wall of books in the living room. Another shelf next to that wall. Another small shelf near the TV (filled mostly with my Dickens collection), another two shelves in the “office,” another small shelf (three shelves, actually) in the bedroom. I’d have a bookshelf in the bathroom, but I’m afraid the books would all get wet.

I have always known that I will die before I read all the books in my house. Strangely, that comforts me. I can’t think of anything worse than getting to my last few years on this planet and having nothing to read.

As it is, when I put up the books I kept coming across some wonderful stuff that I bought and couldn’t wait to read. I still can’t wait to read them. Oh, if only this lawyer gig would pay the taxes off and let me spend the mornings and afternoons reading.

Right now the book on the little table next to the couch is Dr. Zhivago. Yes, the Boris Pasternak novel of the Russian revolution. It astounds and entertains me to watch this masterful writer at work, telling the lives of normal people caught in the whirlwind of history. Those Russians, they’re good at that kind of thing.

The little table is shared by a completely different book, Walking in the Sacred Manner, which tells of Lakota (Souix) Holy Women. It is fascinating and endearing. And very spiritual. It’s the August selection for the Joseph Campbell Book Club. So far, most of the selections of this Literati section have been worth reading. I’m just having trouble keeping up, with the move and all.

Oh, did I mention that in both of my law offices–in San Bernardino and in Victorville–I have another 50 or so books?

No? Must have slipped my mind.

Why do I collect books? Why do you watch TV? Why do you root for your favorite sports team? Why do you make love to a person you are fond of?

There are things in life that don’t have answers. You just do them.

You keep making love, my friend. I’ll be over here reading a good book.