Our library just hosted Delia Ephron, famous Hollywood screenwriter and novelist. Her new book, Frannie in Pieces, was just released! Alex Uhl, owner of Whale of a Tale Bookshoppe, was our sponsor and my good friend! We had a packed house in the library for this event. I served “James’s Late Night Brownies” made from the recipe on Delia Ephron’s website (www.deliaephron.com). They were so yummy!

Delia fit the “pieces” together as to what inspired her to write this new teen novel! It was amazing that a trip to Cinque Terre in Italy, a photo she took and a puzzle she found all fit together for a book full of drama and comedy about Frannie, a girl who had lost her father and didn’t realize how much she had fallen to pieces and needed to be put back together herself! This is a fabulous book! Delia is amazing at painting the scenes with words. I could totally visualize in my mind the details.

I just lost my father a year ago last summer. It takes a long time to go through the grief and feel like the pieces of my life are put back together. But this book made me laugh and cry - emotions that are good to feel and heal!

By the way, Delia has many movies to her credit as a screenwriter - You’ve Got Mail (I have watched it many times), Bewitched (starring a former Rancho student, Will Ferrell (’81/’82) and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, based on the book by Ann Brashares, to name a few!

My special thanks go to Delia Ephron, HarperCollins and Alex Uhl for this fabulous event!

Wow! Today is another first day of school. I can’t believe I woke up at 4:30 am! Am I excited or apprehensive? A little of both! I am speaking in the 7th Grade assembly this morning to all the new students. This is their day! No 8th graders! They come tomorrow. Funny! I must be having some of the same thoughts for this new day - what will the day be like? I wonder? What will the future bring? I wonder.

Wow! Those are song lyrics rumbling around in my head. Where are they from? I am humming the tune! Trusty “google” search - Maria sang those words in the musical, Sound of Music! The song title is “I Have Confidence.” She was about to start her new job, about to meet seven children and a captain, about to embark on a new adventure and she sings her emotions.

“I’ve always longed for adventure
To do the things I’ve never dared
And here I’m facing adventure
Then why am I so scared”

Wow! We all have these emotions! But I have confidence. I am passionate about what I do as a librarian. I am passionate about how much I love middle school students. I am passionate about serving and supporting them. I have confidence that this will be another amazing school year.

So, let them bring on all their problems
I’ll do better than my best
I have confidence they’ll put me to the test
But I’ll make them see I have confidence in me

Somehow I will impress them
I will be firm but kind
And all those children (Heaven bless them!)
They will look up to me

And mind me with each step I am more certain
Everything will turn out fine
I have confidence the world can all be mine
They’ll have to agree I have confidence in me

I have confidence in sunshine
I have confidence in rain
I have confidence that spring will come again
Besides which you see I have confidence in me

Strength doesn’t lie in numbers
Strength doesn’t lie in wealth
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers
When you wake up — Wake Up!

It tells me all I trust I lead my heart to
All I trust becomes my own
I have confidence in confidence alone
(Oh help!)

I have confidence in confidence alone
Besides which you see I have confidence in me!
Source of Song Lyrics:

http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/thesoundofmusic/ihaveconfidence.htm

I have begun again. September always brings the excitement of a new school year. But where is the cool crisp air? We’re having a heat wave! Thankfully, there is no blackout here and the air conditioner works. As a librarian in a middle school, I anticipate returning students and fresh new faces. My library is quiet today. School hasn’t started today.

I love my library! I love middle school students! What a great place to work! Our principal always quips, “Just another day in paradise!” Well, when you find your purpose and live it, paradise is here and now! There is an “amazingness” (to use my daughter’s term) about connecting books and students, even connecting websites and students! Helping them find just what they need brings joy in the job!

Well, back to work! I need to hang out welcome signs and put out the Starbucks Back to School Bears! Maybe I should sharpen some pencils for that “smell of fall” that Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan emailed about in You’ve Got Mail.

I have begun again.