divorce and do dishing... at the library

"How much does it cost to scan and fax?", she asked.

I was at the library on Monday printing off some materials for a tutee.  The library has a little work area for doing such things.  While I was there happily printing, this random woman around my age was walking around checking the place out and asked me about scanning and faxing.  Maybe she initially thought I worked there?

"Uhm", I replied intelligently, "the sign says 25¢ per page, but I've never used their scanner"

"Oh", as she seemed to realize then that I was not library staff, "How much is it to print?"

"It's 10¢ a page, and your first 10 pages are free".  That I could answer. 

She pondered this for a moment while watching my pages feed, then realized the cost could add up to quite a bit with a lot of pages.  I mentioned the FedEx copy place just down the street that printed for 8¢ a page, so depending on how big her job was, that might be the better option. 

"Welp", she continued, "there are a lot of documents involved in a divorce".

"Ah", my eloquent response.

Then she continued conversing with me about the niceness of the library. "I've never been here before", she said while taking in the digs. 

As I talked with her, I got the impression that she was happily turning over some new leaves - checking out the new library after a session at the gym for instance.  In our short conversation, I surmised that the divorce was good for her mentally and emotionally... if not financially.

And it is a nice library, but honestly, one of its drawbacks when I meet students there is that it's kind of... rowdy.  Some of the worst offenders I've seen have been library staff members.  And conversations like the one I had with divorce lady pop up often. 

I think I can honestly say that, random strangers are much more likely to strike up conversations with me at the library than any other not-particularly-social place I visit - the gym, post office, grocery store, DMV, etc. 

In fact, last week, I was there, again printing off some tutee materials.  A different woman - another tutor, I think - was also in the work area.  She told me she liked my hair, and then proceeded to ponder getting a similar hairstyle for herself.  She asked where I get my hair "done".

I told her the place and added, "I bring a picture, and they somehow make my hair look just like the picture".  Then I pulled up the current hair photo I had saved in Pinterest and offered it to the woman. 

"Okay, but y'know, I think I like your hair better.  Can I take a picture?"

Well, that was kinda weird, but okay.  She then walked around snapping pics of my head from various angles.  I covered my face for the frontal shot. 

I didn't mention that I'd spent the morning mowing the lawn, then rode my bike to the library while wearing a hairdo-wrecking helmet.  Apparently, that created a better touch than a Pinterest pic for this woman. 

Needing a break from the quiet?  Head to the library!