This definitely should’ve been in Dad’s eulogy. And it applies just as well to the rest of the family.
Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I’ll have a long beard by the time I read them.
–Arnold Lobel
This too:
To be a book-collector is to combine the worst characteristics of a dope fiend with those of a miser. — Robertson Davies
“..long beard by the time I read them.” I know now how many Joe was awaiting a long retirement to dip into. There are many whose spine is too stiff for him to have enjoyed their contents. With Micawber’s no longer buying books, most will now be donated to the Princeotn Public Library, which Joe loved. They will even send a truck when I accumulate enough boxes. They have a staff person assigned to sorting and trashing those that have no known resale value. The library uses their new community room to host an annual bock sale, so many will be sold and find new homes in town.