The Peril of Lending Books

Simple peril of lending books- you don't get your them back. Ever. Look I'm a generous guy, I am. And I have paid dearly for my generosity. It took an especially painful lesson before I instituted my current, No Book Borrowing Ever, policy.

It was 1990, the Gulf War 1.0 was underway, I, as a 14 year old refugee in Pennsylvania, bought a hardcover edition of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. I loved that book. Why? It was my escape every night from thinking about the War- a war that displaced us from our home and life, and more importantly left us without any news of Papa, who was missing. A father's presence is a silent shadow of support that you don't notice until it's gone. Such heavy thoughts for a 14 year old to ponder at the time. So instead of feeling completely miserable, I read The Guide every night. I loved The Guide, it was my friend- funny, confusing, and it made sense! I even had the original version with the cover that had the big happy planet eating a smaller happy planet (true Guide fans will know of what I speak). I read it 12 times between 1990-1994.

It's my senior year of high school and my girlfriend at the time 'borrows' The Guide. Like I fool I parted with it. Sadly, I never got it back. She moved, and so did I. Even though I subsequently bought a replacement copy, it was never quite the same, the magic was gone.

Now instead of lending books, I just gift them. I figure I won't get them back anyways, so I might as well autograph them and say adios. There are certain books that are my 'favorites' (I know that sounds like I'm about 7) and I just say you are welcome to come over and read them! I don't care what people think- as they say once bitten twice shy.