Monday was an interesting day – Columbus Day. We really didn’t give Columbus Day a thought, until…

Both the girls had music lessons Monday morning, and I promised them that we would go the library afterwards. This was a big thing; my girls love the library; and the last couple of visits had been very frustrating.

The first of the two most recent visits was on a very busy day. We had to return our books; they were due – all 54 of them! We had a very tight schedule that day and the plan was to drop the books off at the book drop outside and not even go into the library. This was greeted with disbelief at first – we always go into the library. Even when I say, “We really don’t have time to look at the books today”, I usually relent and we each carry out an armload of books, with my stack being the highest and heaviest. My daughters’ disbelief soon turned to unenthusiatic resignation as I emphasized what I considered absolute necessity, “Do you girls understand? We cannot go into the library today. We are too busy. We are just dropping off books. Do you understand?”

They understood. So on that very hot afternoon, after music lessons, school pictures and park day, my girls unloaded all our books into the book drop and we drove away from the library. That was not satisfying.

The most recent trip commenced when the library called to let us know that one of our daughters had left her wallet and library card there. Daddy took the girls over that day – but the library was closed.

So Monday we were excited. We were going to the library – really going…to look for and check out books, Woo Hoo! Until we drove into the completely empty parking lot…what is wrong with this picture?…Oh, it’s Columbus Day! The libraries are closed!

My girls were disappointed: understatement.
In the surprise and drama of the moment, they spontaneously began an “I hate Columbus” chant (Because his holiday – after all – had closed the library!). Then one of the girls had an idea, “Let’s go to another library – a different one.” As I explained that all the libraries were closed for Columbus Day, I could see their faces fall as they fully comprehended the situation. So the rest of the way home was filled with “I hate Columbus”-style songs and much silly giggling and laughter.

When we got home, another highlight of our day was spoiled – by Columbus. We love to check the mailbox; you never know when you may receive a letter…or something. But alas, it was Columbus Day and there is no mail delivery on Columbus Day.