Out-of-Order

No one likes to arrive at a rest room or a gas pump or a water fountain to fine the words "out-of-order" posted.  But sometimes the phrase means "not in the correct order."  Such is the case with this blog.  I won't bore you with all the reasons why this blog post should precede the one that follows it but suffice it to say that getting older is not for "sissies."

A week ago, I had a very important appointment to keep in the early evening but the schools I needed to visit were at some distance.  I arose very early and left to visit schools which sit along the Virginia border and in the north.  east corner of the state.

I arrived first at Halifax Community College.  Outside the main building on campus is a fish.  I assumed it was some sort of mascot but I learned the school's mascot is the "Knights."  Marc Finney is the Director of the Library.

One of the few public libraries I call on is in Scotland Neck.  Brenda Mills is the librarian there and has led the county-wide system of public libraries to serve this rural community.

Vance-Granville Community College in Henderson is led by Elaine Stem.  She was preparing to leave for a meeting when I arrived so I didn't have long to speak with her.  I learned a week later that VGCC qualified for a very special award from the company I represent.  Congratulations to Elaine and her fine staff!


Piedmont Community College is in the town of Roxboro.
 Vanessa Bass is the director and had just begun her duties when I visited during the summer.  Vanessa was not in her office when I arrived so I left my calling card on a table near the entrance.  The next day, I received a gracious note from her to indicate she had found my card.
 
It was after lunchtime when I left PCC so I stopped at a place called "American Hero."  American Hero is run by two brothers from Lebanon.  Sammi prepared my meal of grilled chicken with peppers and onions on a bed of wide egg noodles.  The meal was accompanied by a salad and garlic bread.  Ordinarily, when I have calls to make, both onions and garlic are off the menu for me.  But since I had made my final call for the day and had only the drive home ahead, I enjoyed Sammi's fare.
 

What could be more American than two brothers from a foreign country serving delicious food at a reasonable price to a diverse clientele? American Hero indeed!

It was a long drive from Roxboro to my home but I made it in time for my evening appointment.

Recognition

My National Customer Service Director called me recently to tell me that four of the schools I visit had earned special recognition.  He asked if I could be present to present a present to them.  One of the schools is perhaps the furthest away from where I live of any and the other, I had just recently visited.  We made other arrangements for those two and yesterday, I set off with flowers in the back of my car to deliver to the two schools of excellence.

The first was Wayne Community College in Goldsboro.  I had visited WCC twice before but had never found the director, Dr. Aletha Andrew, in her office.  This time, however, she was in and available to talk.  I was escorted to her office by Terri Smith, whom I'd met before.  Terri is the person who orders books and shared in the award.

Jaxie Bryan is the director at Johnston Community College in Smithfield.  I stopped in to visit with her while I was in the area.  The students were preparing for the end of the semester and Jaxie was very busy with students finishing up their work before the Christmas break.

Yesterday was seasonably cold and when I left the Library, I thought I saw snow flurries in the air!  Upon closer examination, however, it was only cottonwood tree catkins being blown about by the wind.

My second award-winning school was Campbell University.  Students there were busily involved in end-of-semester projects and I noticed on the door of the library that special extended hours and even snacks were offered to assist in the last-minute study and preparation for exams.  Students will leave campus on the 14th and not return until after the new year.  Michelle Gregory is in charge of acquisitions and my visit actually interrupted her preparing an order for more books--so I didn't stay long!





The next two stops were at schools which are parts of the same county wide system.  In Lillington, Central Carolina Community College is led by Jennifer Seagraves and her able assistant, Barbara Bera.  In Sanford, CCCC is led by Tara Lucas and her assistant, Jessica Walshaw.  Jessica is also a student and an aspiring writer.




I enjoyed lunch at Howard's Barbecue on the bank of the Neuse River.  Howard's is run by a man named Dave.  Howard was his Dad and he started the business 30 years ago.  Dave is a stereotypical "good ol boy" but is clearly an excellent businessman and a great cook.  Since I'm not a fan of Eastern style cue, I ordered the grilled chicken and it was delicious and "fall-off-the-bone" tender.  I asked Dave about the recent flooding.  He showed me how high the water in the river had gotten.  It is hard to imagine but easy to see how that much water could cause so much damage.

My final stop was in the "golf capital of North Carolina," Pinehurst.  Sandhills Community College is led by Dr. John Stacey.  Dr. John told me he was planning to return to his home in the northeast for Christmas.  When I mentioned that he would almost certainly have a "white Christmas," he said that such Hallmark sentiment had long since lost its romance for him.  He clearly enjoys living in our milder climate.

As I drove home, I thought about the two schools who had received special recognition and the four who hadn't.  On its surface, the practice of rewarding some and not others may seem unfair and many object to it these days.  However, the problem seems not to be with those who achieve but with the resentment of those who do not.  Why not celebrate the achievement of others and aspire to their standard rather than abiding ill will?  Such a tide would, I believe, "lift all the boats."

This was probably my last trip before the new year so let me take a moment to wish each of your readers a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  My brother, John, was not much to celebrate Christmas (owing perhaps to his unhappy home life) but our brother, Charles, seemed to have the joy of the season throughout the year.  He wrote:

Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free.  From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee:  Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art, dear Desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king, born to reign in us for ever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring:  by Thy own eternal Spirit   rule in all our hearts alone, by Thy all-sufficient merit raise us to Thy glorious throne. 

Two-in-one

Back on the tenth of November, I traveled to the Eastern part of the state to visit schools I had previously visited.  Before I had time to record my visit in this blog, I began the work to prepare my mother's home for sale.  She has recently moved to an assisted living facility and the work of preparing the house for sale occupied me for several days. My most recent travels included a new traveling companion.  My wife was able to spend a few days traveling with me to the Outer Banks for a combination of work and vacation.

Michael Garafolo is the director of the Lenoir Community College in Kinston, NC.  When I visited earlier, Michael had been in a meeting concerning the beginning of school so I was pleased to meet him.  Since I was there last, the library has been renovated and is now a beautiful facility for the students and the community.  It is also the home of Heritage Place.  Heritage Place was established in 1988. It houses a special reserved collection of genealogical and local/state historical materials. Research material focuses primarily on Eastern North Carolina but includes other counties as well as an extensive section of Virgina books and records.  

Christine Vasica is the Director of the library at James Sprunt Community College in Kenansville.  As had been the case on my earlier visit, I found her hard at work providing quality resources with limited funds for the students.  

By the time I drove to Clinton, it was lunch time so I stopped in at Gracie's Grill.  Their specialty is barbecue but as I have mentioned before, I'm not a fan of Eastern style que so I ordered the hamburger steak with vegetable sides.  It was excellent.  








Donna Odum is the new Director at the Sampson County Community College in Clinton.  She was walking across the entryway when I arrived and greeted me with "May I help you?"  When I introduced myself, we were able to get to know each other.  She is clearly one of the many librarians I have met who are not just administrators but selfless hard-workers.

Pam Wood was not available when I arrived at Mt. Olive University.  But I met a delightful young woman who is relatively new to the job in Kelsey Chandler.  Kelsey is a Carolina alum so she is alright by me!










It was rather late in the day when I arrived at Wayne County Community College and sure enough, I missed seeing the Director.  But as I entered the building, I noticed that a Job Fair had been going on in the lobby.  As I was leaving, I walked over to the Marine Corps table and wished the two Marines there a "Happy Birthday."  The Marine Corps was begun 241 years earlier on November 10th. They both laughed and then one said, "You just cost me $5!"  He explained they had bet each other that no one would acknowledge the November 10th Marine Birthday on the college campus.  Their day was almost over when I broke the drought.  I thanked them for their service to our country and paid off the bet.

It would be 10 days before I would travel again but on Sunday afternoon, my wife and I set our course for Tarboro.  One there and checked into our room, we visited a local chain called "Ribeyes."  The salad bar was especially noteworthy because it featured watermelon rind pickles.  








The next morning, I began my day with an early visit to Edgecomb Community College where Deborah Parisher is the Director.  I learned that ECCC has a branch in Rocky Mount as well.

Mary and I then drove to Greenville to visit Pitt County Community College.  There is, apparently, another school in Greenville but it was not on my list to visit.  Stephanie Bowers was the Interim Director and I asked her about her lineage.  My oldest son is named for my grandfather, Bowers.  He was originally from Georgia and Stephanie's family hails from the Peach State as well but beyond that we could make no further connection.  The new Director is Leigh Russell and she is assisted by Millie Sparks.

Our next stop was Ahoski and the Roanoke-Chowan Community College.

 It was lunchtime so we drove to Winton and ate lunch at the Winton Corner Cafe.  It was delicious food at a reasonable price.  Who could ask for more?

Monique Mitchell, the director, was not available but Amber Moore showed me every kindness during my visit.  










Elizabeth City State University is another of the eleven HBCU's in North Carolina.  Both the Director and the person in charge of buying books were in a meeting so I will have to return to meet them both.

My last call of the day was on the Outer Banks on Roanoke Island. The Dare County Campus of the College of the Albemarle is located within a few miles of the site of the first English Colony in the New World.  I was worried by the lateness of the hour when we arrived but there at the circulation desk sat the Director, Patricia Peterson.  

With that last call, my work ended and my vacation began.  Mary and I have always loved the Outer Banks and have vacationed there often.  This trip, we checked into the Scarborough Inn.  It is a delightful old boarding house that has been upfitted with modern conveniences but stay-fitted with antique and period furniture.  The owner/operator, Rebecca Scarborough was a wonderful host.  Dinner was at a nearly-deserted restaurant called the Blue Water Grill that overlooks the inlet where Sir Walter Raleigh sailed in to Manteo Island.  We did a little Christmas shopping and then retired for the night.  

On Tuesday morning, we walked to TL's Family Restaurant and then drove to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  After previous weeks of unseasonably warm weather, this day was cold and windy but we enjoyed walking on the beach and enjoying the beauty of the ocean.  Around noon, we left the Outer Banks for home and stopped in Columbia at the Columbia Crossing Restaurant.  In one last homage to our trip to the beach, I enjoyed a fried oyster sandwich.  


     
  

A Two-fer

Bobby Burns observed that the "best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray."  My plan for All Saints Day was to visit a number of libraries.  But first, I paid a call on a widow in my Church who was having surgery.  The procedure scheduled for 9:00 a.m. did not commence until nearly 11:00 so I was delayed in starting my journey.  I do not begrudge the time I spent with this dear woman and her family nor the time spent by the medical personnel preparing to do the delicate work of surgery.

After leaving the hospital, I traveled to Salisbury to visit three very fine academic institutions.  Between me and Salisbury was a horrendous wreck involving two tractor-trailer trucks.  Interstate traffic was snarled so I left the highway to try to find a less congested path.  Fortunately, that path led me by Gary's, a favorite restaurant in Kannapolis.  Since I couldn't get to my first sop before lunch time, I stopped at Gary's.





The first stop in Salisbury was Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.  The library there is in transition.  Their director, Tony Lippard left to go to another school and in his place is Lisa Shores, the acting director.  The woman in charge of acquiring the books is Kathy Fountain who is a cheerful a person as I've ever met.
 

Just across the interstate highway is Hood Theological Seminary.  When I visited in the summer, the director was not there but this day I found Jess Bellemer just returning from lunch.  A window near the door had a most intricate design and I commented on its beauty.  Jess informed me it had shattered under extreme temperature but not broken.  I note that there is a sermon illustration in there somewhere.






Catawba College was my third and final stop of this shortened day.  There I met Steve McKenzie who directs the fine library on the campus.  There is a great contrast between the traditional architecture of the outside of the building and the very modern and scholar-friendly inside of the building.

Because of my late start, I was unable to complete my itinerary so I returned home and hatched a plan to finish the next morning.

Each month I meet with a life-long friend for personal and spiritual accountability.  We share our lives and encourage each other to "finish on fire."  Meeting him was on my way to Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs.  After our meeting, I continued to GWU and found Laurie Bumgardner. When I had visited in the summer, they were receiving the holdings of a branch campus that had closed.  That work had been completed and the library was bigger ad better than ever.  Laurie introduced me to the reference librarian, Dr. Pam Dennis.  Dr. Dennis told me that for the two weeks before the end of the semester, the library stays open 24 hour a day with two librarians present.  That kind of sacrifice shows the devotion these people have to the students they serve.    

I only visit a few public libraries but one of them is in my former hometown of Gastonia.  The Library was abuzz with activity because it is a site for "early voting."  There was a long line of people entering the library to cast their ballot.  I commend voting to everyone on (or before) November 8th. Inside, I met my old friend, Bob Biggers who works at the front desk and he brought Jane Kayler, the acquisitions director to me.  Jane shares a last name with a dear friend of mine but, try as we might, we were not able to establish a connection.

My final visit for this second shortened day was at the oldest Catholic University in the South, Belmont Abbey.  Sharon Bolger is in charge of getting books and I found her hard at work at the front desk.  She serves an eclectic mix of students seeking a bachelor's degree and Catholic scholars from the Abbey.

Thus ended my second shortened day.  But two halves seem to have made a whole day.  I wonder how often I fail to achieved what's possible because I can't achieve what I'd planned.

Whatchamacallit

As I travel I think about what I am going to write.  My day began with a return visit to Mitchell Community College in Statesville.  I was there to meet the new Director, Beverly Rufty, and to show her how to use our company's website.  I arrived to find that she was expecting one of five interviewees for a position with the library.  We visited briefly and I left her to prepare for the interviews.  As I walked back to my car, I noticed that the door of the Broad Street United Methodist Church (part of my brother, John's tribe) was open.  I don't mean it was simply unlocked.  It was standing open.  I couldn't resist so I walked over and found the building to be open for anyone to come in.  The sanctuary was beautiful and apparently is available for people to simply come in and meditate or pray.  There was no one to supervise and I thought what a risk the Church takes to make the sanctuary available.  As I returned to my car, I thought a good title might be "The Church of the Open Door."

My next stop was another return visit to the school named for my brother, John Wesley University in
High Point.  As had been the case on my previous two visits, the library director was not available.  High Point is a city I visit fairly frequently so I will try to see her again.  After that visit I thought I might write about perseverance.

My next stop was in Asheboro at the Randolph County Community College.  Debbie Luck and Pam Pollard have become good friends and I asked if I could take a picture with them.  They agreed (though they, like most women, are loathe to have their picture taken) if I would allow their library mascot, Snoopy, to join in.  Snoopy was dressed in a tutu and had just returned form visiting someone in the hospital where the nurses had given him "Breast Cancer Awareness" headgear.  He had voted in early voting and had the sticker to prove it.  I'm afraid my rather drab attire did not match his flamboyance.  At that point, I was convinced Snoopy would find his way into the title.

It was noon when I got to Troy and the Montgomery County

Community College. I looked around for a place to eat and found a gem.  Hometown BBQ is a local eatery that features "Eastern Style" barbecue.  That is not my favorite kind so I ordered barbecued chicken, collard greens and butter beans.  The food was delicious and the service as friendly as could be.  They served hushpuppies with honey butter which is a great way to end any meal. My only concern was keeping the abundant barbecue sauce off my tie--which would have made a good title.

Deborah Ashby is the director at MCCC but she was on vacation.  MCCC is the school I wrote about in a previous tome that has a nationally-recognized program teaching taxidermy.  I though about going over to see the program but I was still stuffed from lunch!








Stanley County Community College had just celebrated Halloween and the director, Erin Allen, had a
werewolf on her head.  I asked her if she was aware of it and she seemed to not be the least bit put off.

My final stop was in Misenheimer at Pfeiffer University.  Lara Little reported a 3% growth in enrollment at the school this year and introduced me to the man who orders books for the library, Damion Miller.  Damion is built more like a linebacker than a librarian.  Clearly these two have the Gustavus Adolphus Pfeiffer library well in hand.  Those four names--Misenheimer, Pfeiffer, Gustavus and Adolphus would certainly make eye-catching titles.

So I am left with "Whatchamacallit."  Because however you describe this day's travels, it's about books and the people who love them.  The freedom to read and write and name are guarantees that come with being a citizen of this fair land.  I hope you will not only excercise that right but also fulfill that duty on November 8th.

  

Comings and Goings

I had never visited the campus of Lees McRae College in Banner Elk and I could not have chosen a better day for the school to make a great "first impression."  The ride from my home to Banner Elk goes through a community called Jonas Ridge.  The sun was just beginning to rise and the tops of the mountains were glorious in color and magnificent in brilliance.  As I drove into the valley I found a campus that has preserved the beauty of her original buildings even in her newest and most modern structures.  One of those is the Dottie M. Shelton Learning Commons which has recently undergone a $2.1 million dollar renovation.  At the helm is Mollie Peuler who proudly showed off the new library.
In addition to the beauty of the Fall welcome, I also experienced the hospitality of the community.  When I arrived, I had no idea where the Library was on campus so I asked someone.  Mary Braun is a retired English Professor who lives in Banner Elk.  She immediately offered me a ride to the library.

My next stop was at Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine.  I've frequently said that my

predecessor in this job, Charlie Snider, is the most beloved man I've ever known.  Jon Wilmesherr, director of the library at MCC, may be the second!  He was running an errand when I arrived and while I waited, the two women who worked in the library sang his praises.  When he returned, I began to understand why.  MCC serves  Mitchell, Avery, and Yancey counties and offers programs for High Schoolers and at two of the local prisons.

I returned to Mars Hill University to check on a shipment of books but as is usually the case at this dynamic school the librarians were too busy to spend much time except to say that everything was AOK.









Asheville is home to three schools; one of which I had already visited.  UNC-Asheville is part of the

University of North Carolina system and is the only dedicated liberal arts institution in the UNC system.  Leah Dunn is the director.  The school began in 1927 as the Buncombe County Junior College and became part of the UNC system in 1969.

AB Tech is a school I have visited twice before.  I have never been able to see the director and the third time proved to be charmed.  Russell Taylor welcomed me to his office and I immediately noticed that he had one of those desks you can elevate to stand and work.  (www.varidesk.com/)  He showed me how easily it converts from a normal desk at which one would sit to a fully functional desk at which one would stand.  In the course of our conversation, I mentioned that I had been to Lees McRae that morning and I learned that he had been the librarian there when the project to remodel the library had begun and had returned for the dedication.

Lunch was at an old favorite, "Five Points."  The Five Points neighborhood is a suburb on the

northern side of downtown begun in the late 19th century.  Most of the houses were built before 1920, some designed by significant architects of the era. Notable Asheville businessman and benefactor George W. Pack built his home there called “Manyoaks.”  The Five Points Restaurant has been in business there for many years.  While they offer a wide variety of American food, they specialize in Greek food and I was quick to order Spanakopita and a Greek Salad.  It was delicious!

My final stop was at South College.  It is a campus of a school located in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Prospects for helping them with books are not bright because all of their books come from the Tennessee campus.  Nonetheless, it was a delight to visit the very modern campus and the meet the director of the library, Marissa Deziel.  

I thought about the comings and goings of Russell Taylor at Lees McRae and AB Tech.  Who knows where any of us will be in a year?  Who knows what our nation will be like after November 8th?  This much we know:  Somethings in life will remain the same.   The love of a family and the faith that sustains us will not be cahnged by the comings and goings.