I've come a long way, baby

Besides providing me with internet access, I have a second reason for being thankful to the small town library here - I found a battered old copy of Michener's Hawaii, a gigantic historical novel which I had thought about reading as preparation for next week's trip there, but hadn't had time at home. It's actually so dilapidated that the librarian gave it to me, so I can dispose of it when I've finished reading. How about that for acquiring a book that doesn't weigh down my luggage for the rest of the trip?! I've had time to read, so I'm about a third into it by now, and it's a fascinating look at the history of the islands.

I'm letting my mind wander along with my feet as I walk about town daily, trying to connect to my memories of the years I spent here. The old high school is still there, though it now has students from two neighboring towns as well and carries the name of the county instead of the town. Physically, much has stayed the same, though I don't know a lot of the residents anymore, but I guess I've changed so much that I get little feeling of familiarity when I see it. That old advertising slogan comes to mind: "You've come a long way, baby!" And I have no desire to come back - except to visit and keep in touch with the people here, of course.


Ich habe doppelten Grund, der kleinen oeffentlichen Buecherei hier dankbar zu sein - nicht nur fuer die Moeglichkeit, Internet zu benutzen, sondern auch fuer ein Buch, das ich als Vorbereitung fuer naechste Woche lese. Ich wusste von Michener's grossem historischem Roman "Hawaii", hatte aber keine Zeit, es zu Hause zu lesen. Hier fand ich eine Kopie, die ziemlich auseinander faellt, aber noch so eben ganz ist. Die Bibliothekarin schenkte es mir - ob es hier oder unterwegs weggeworfen wuerde, waere egal - nett, was?! Es liest sich sehr gut und hat viel Information aus der Vergangenheit der Inseln.

Ansonsten faulenze ich und gehe spazieren, versuche dabei Erinnerungen von frueher aufzufrischen. Der Ort hat sich aeusserlich nicht viel veraendert, aber ich habe mich so veraendert, dass mir alles hier sehr fremd ist. Nur die Menschen ver/binden mich noch mit und an das Dorf meiner Jugend.