The Internet has everything these days, doesn't it? Back when I was a kid, back before the Internet had even been imagined, if we wanted to look something up, we went to the dictionary, a thesaurus, or if we needed the big guns, we headed off to a set of Encyclopedia.
I always felt fortunate because my parents bought a set of encyclopedia for us. Yes, perhaps I was a bit odd, feeling fortunate about having a set of encyclopedia in the house, but I found them fascinating. Ours was the Encyclopedia Americana, complete with a Yearbook that came each year. Yes, they were great for study time and writing book reports, but just as people today will surf the Internet and follow threads and topics, I would pull out a volume at random and just read. I loved to travel through each volume just to find out where it would take me.
Of course I know the Internet is faster & easier, and yes, it takes up much less room, but oh my, how I miss the smell and feel of those heavy volumes. I miss pouring through the printed words on the page as I lay on the carpeted basement floor on my stomach with my feet up in the air and the encyclopedia du jour in front of me. My mom always used to say, if she sent me downstairs for something and there was a book between me and my mission, there was a good chance I wouldn't make it back. Those encyclopedia would catch me nearly every time.
My folks got rid of those encyclopedia last year. I was sad to hear about it, but I live too far away to take them, and I can't expect them to keep something in their house forever just to satisfy a pleasant memory when I visit. Perhaps I can find a used set near me that isn't too beat. I don't really have the room either, but it sure is tempting.
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