In the good old summertime…
Photo credit: State Library of NC, Digital Collections (1954)
What child doesn’t love summer vacation?
One of my fondest childhood memories of summer was our weekly visit—I think it was Tuesday afternoon—from the Caldwell Country bookmobile. Like clockwork, the bookmobile arrived at our house. Its door popped open, and then, Miss Nora McGee invited the three Carlton children to enter her library on wheels. Can you say paradise?
With great anticipation, I climbed the steps and entered Miss McGee’s mobile library. (What a brilliant idea!) Without leaving our own yard, we could check out books. And I checked out tons of books.
Nora McGee was a distant cousin on Daddy’s side. I knew this, of course. But that’s not what impressed or excited me. She took book requests. I would ask for a certain title. If she did not have it on the bookmobile that day, Miss McGee would bring it the following week.
Not only did she take requests, but she also made recommendations. I remember when Miss McGee first offered The Boxcar Children to me. She said, “I think that you will like this story, Nancy.”
And she was right!
Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. Oh, yes. I still remember the names (in birth order) of these orphaned Boxcar children. How I loved this spirited and adventurous bunch of kids. My favorite character was Jessie. (Middle child, oldest girl, super organized, “take charge” type. I suppose we had/have a lot in common.)
I wish that I could remember what year that was. 1968? Maybe? Whenever it was, that was the summer I renewed The Boxcar Children every single week. I had this book practically memorized.
Photo credit: State Library of NC, Digital Collections (1954)