June 2008
Hi there, folks,
In June 2008, I will be turning 50. I would like to make this year meaningful and memorable by supporting several charities. The first group I
have chosen is called Bookworm Angels. It is a Chicago-based charity. When you have time, please read the piece I wrote (below) that
describes my reasons for contributing. Please contact me if you're interested in joining my project. Check out "My 49th Year" to follow my
progress on this project.
Love,
Jo-Jo
When I was in first grade, I got a library card from the Lakeview Public Library in Chicago. It was located quite a few blocks from our apartment,
so I couldn’t walk there by myself. I thought it was amazing that I could get a bag of books to take home. I believe there was a limit of seven kids’
books that could be checked out at any one time. I always got as many as they’d let me have.
I read the books quickly. Even reading them more than once didn’t take long. Knowing there was a huge room filled with books made me so
excited! It also made me want to read ALL of them. After finishing my stack of seven, I’d get bored and impatient to choose another bunch of
books.
Mama patiently drove me to the library when I wanted to get more books. It was a huge production because I had three siblings, ranging from a
newborn to a five-year- old. They’d have to pile in the car with us. There was another added twist to this arrangement. My mom is a nurse. Back
then, she worked nights so that she could be with us during the day. My dad was an intern, so he wasn’t home much. If I wanted to get more
books, I’d usually have to wake Mama and ask her to take me to the library. She told me that sometimes I’d ask for a ride more than once or
twice a day. God bless you, Mama, for your patience! She never scolded me for wanting to read more books. After all, she had been buying me
books since I was born. I recall an old black and white photo of me as a toddler, surrounded by picture books, Mother Goose rhymes and a
giant kids’ dictionary. My dad kidded her that we didn’t have a lot of money, but we sure had a big library!
My favorite book when I was very little was a Disney version of Cinderella. It was about a foot high and eight inches wide. I carried it everywhere.
If I found an aunt, parent or grandparent to read it to me, I’d sit down and listen closely. After a while, I could recite the book along with the
person. One aunt got a bit weary of Cinderella and asked why she had to read it if I already knew all the words! I made no apologies. I never
tired of hearing the fairy tale.
We lived in a city in the Philippines near several aunts, uncles and my grandparents. My dad came from a small village in the Northern
provinces. To get there, we had to take a long bus ride. My Auntie Mary accompanied my younger brother and me to go to their village for a short
trip. It must have been quite a challenge to have a four-year-old, a three-year-old and all our belongings in tow. She did very well on the long
journey, until we got off in the village. As it pulled away, Auntie Mary realized that she’d forgotten a bag on the bus. It had my Cinderella book in it!
Oh no! It also had all my clothes. What were we going to do now? We had to scramble around getting me some dresses. I didn’t mind that part.
What devastated me was the fact that my Cinderella was gone forever. My parents realized that I was heartbroken, so they tried to find me a
substitute. The only Cinderella they could find was not exactly the same. I could tell. I’d memorized the text. I knew that the illustrations weren’t
the ones in the original book either. I had to be satisfied because there were no other versions to be found.
For years, I’d try to find that same edition. I bought many Cinderella stories – from Golden Books to other Disney fairy tale collections. None of
them were my book. I got close once. My local library had that ancient edition on their shelves, but I wasn’t able to buy it from them until it
became too old to be used. Somehow, there was a mix-up and the book was discarded or sold before I could buy it. That was crushing. How
could I get that book in my hands only to have it taken away again?
There’s a local used book store nearby called The Frugal Muse. I was attracted by their boxes and shelves filled with old books. There were
some new ones and other products, but it was the books that pulled me in. One day, as I was paying for a few things, I saw a pile of picture
books. My heart started racing. I asked whether I could see that particular bunch. The salesclerk said that they’d just come in, but that she hadn’t
had a chance to catalog them. I told her I’d go over them and let her know if I wanted anything.
I got lucky. In the array of Disney books, there was my edition of Cinderella. I cannot tell you how loudly I screeched or how high I jumped. I can
only say that the clerk was probably glad to sell me the book just to get me out of the store!
This may not seem like much of a thrill to you. To me it meant a lot. I’d been searching for this book for probably more than forty years. I can still
see the bus pulling away from the three of us down a dirt road as I cried out in frustration. The emotions I felt then are as fresh as the day it
happened. I don’t know why it was so important to me that I find this book again. Maybe I loved it because I had taken the words and pictures
into my heart. I knew Cinderella’s story as well as my own. I associated that book with the comfort of having adults who loved me indulge my
request for a moment of their time. I’d snuggle close as they read the familiar, beloved tale. For a few minutes, I’d escape to that French
countryside and watch Cinderella rise above a dreadful situation. I learned that tough circumstances did not make her miserable (except that
one time she cried before her fairy godmother showed up!) She did her work with a cheerful, uncomplaining heart and did her best, no matter
what the task. She made friends despite solitude, treated others kindly no matter how she was treated, and got help when she needed it most.
All in all, those are great life lessons to learn! I was fortunate to have them among my earliest memories.
Now that I’m an adult, I can buy whatever book catches my eye. I can drive myself to the library any time I am in the mood to get more reading
material. My home has always had stacks and stacks of books. We have read to my daughter from her earliest days. We are blessed.
This is why Bookworm Angels has captured my interest. It is hard for me to accept that there are children who do not have easy access to
books. I am sad that their parents may not always have the time or interest to read them stories. It is heartbreaking to think that they may not
even own their own books.
I’d like to change those circumstances for children in the Chicago Public Schools because that is the system that educated me from
Kindergarten to 8th grade. I got an excellent start from Louis J. Agassiz School and Oliver H. Perry School. I don’t think they exist with those
names any longer, but the buildings still stand. I owe them a great debt of gratitude. And, I would like to pay them back by providing at least one
school with enough books to either start or replenish their supply of books.
In order to furnish one new school with a full set of books for this program, I must donate about 6,000 volumes. To replenish an existing
program’s books, I must give them at least 1,500. That’s a lofty goal, but I hope to reach it. I’ll need help though.
In honor of Mama, all my generous and kind relatives, librarians and the teachers who taught me how to read, I would like to gather at least
1,500 new or gently used books. I am committed to giving at least 100 books myself. There are books from my childhood that changed my life,
broadened my world and raised my awareness. I hope to include as many of them as possible in this collection. If I find that I can do it, I would
like to give more than that number.
Will you join me in providing children with life-altering books?
My co-workers and I at Jewel-Osco collected books for Bookworm Angels as a company. That campaign has finished, but I will continue to
gather books for this group on my own. If you’d like to learn more about this organization, please visit www.bookwormangels.org. Together, we
might be able to introduce a child to his/her own favorite story.
Please contact me if you would like to donate one or more (hopefully, many more) book(s). My goal was to gather the necessary volumes by the
end of June, 2009. I have not yet reached my intended number of books, so I will continue to collect them until I do.
If you choose not to donate a book, I hope you'll take the time to read a story to a child or escape into a good book yourself!
Thank you!
Love,
Jo-Jo
In June 2008, I will be turning 50. I would like to make this year meaningful and memorable by supporting several charities. The first group I
have chosen is called Bookworm Angels. It is a Chicago-based charity. When you have time, please read the piece I wrote (below) that
describes my reasons for contributing. Please contact me if you're interested in joining my project. Check out "My 49th Year" to follow my
progress on this project.
Love,
Jo-Jo
When I was in first grade, I got a library card from the Lakeview Public Library in Chicago. It was located quite a few blocks from our apartment,
so I couldn’t walk there by myself. I thought it was amazing that I could get a bag of books to take home. I believe there was a limit of seven kids’
books that could be checked out at any one time. I always got as many as they’d let me have.
I read the books quickly. Even reading them more than once didn’t take long. Knowing there was a huge room filled with books made me so
excited! It also made me want to read ALL of them. After finishing my stack of seven, I’d get bored and impatient to choose another bunch of
books.
Mama patiently drove me to the library when I wanted to get more books. It was a huge production because I had three siblings, ranging from a
newborn to a five-year- old. They’d have to pile in the car with us. There was another added twist to this arrangement. My mom is a nurse. Back
then, she worked nights so that she could be with us during the day. My dad was an intern, so he wasn’t home much. If I wanted to get more
books, I’d usually have to wake Mama and ask her to take me to the library. She told me that sometimes I’d ask for a ride more than once or
twice a day. God bless you, Mama, for your patience! She never scolded me for wanting to read more books. After all, she had been buying me
books since I was born. I recall an old black and white photo of me as a toddler, surrounded by picture books, Mother Goose rhymes and a
giant kids’ dictionary. My dad kidded her that we didn’t have a lot of money, but we sure had a big library!
My favorite book when I was very little was a Disney version of Cinderella. It was about a foot high and eight inches wide. I carried it everywhere.
If I found an aunt, parent or grandparent to read it to me, I’d sit down and listen closely. After a while, I could recite the book along with the
person. One aunt got a bit weary of Cinderella and asked why she had to read it if I already knew all the words! I made no apologies. I never
tired of hearing the fairy tale.
We lived in a city in the Philippines near several aunts, uncles and my grandparents. My dad came from a small village in the Northern
provinces. To get there, we had to take a long bus ride. My Auntie Mary accompanied my younger brother and me to go to their village for a short
trip. It must have been quite a challenge to have a four-year-old, a three-year-old and all our belongings in tow. She did very well on the long
journey, until we got off in the village. As it pulled away, Auntie Mary realized that she’d forgotten a bag on the bus. It had my Cinderella book in it!
Oh no! It also had all my clothes. What were we going to do now? We had to scramble around getting me some dresses. I didn’t mind that part.
What devastated me was the fact that my Cinderella was gone forever. My parents realized that I was heartbroken, so they tried to find me a
substitute. The only Cinderella they could find was not exactly the same. I could tell. I’d memorized the text. I knew that the illustrations weren’t
the ones in the original book either. I had to be satisfied because there were no other versions to be found.
For years, I’d try to find that same edition. I bought many Cinderella stories – from Golden Books to other Disney fairy tale collections. None of
them were my book. I got close once. My local library had that ancient edition on their shelves, but I wasn’t able to buy it from them until it
became too old to be used. Somehow, there was a mix-up and the book was discarded or sold before I could buy it. That was crushing. How
could I get that book in my hands only to have it taken away again?
There’s a local used book store nearby called The Frugal Muse. I was attracted by their boxes and shelves filled with old books. There were
some new ones and other products, but it was the books that pulled me in. One day, as I was paying for a few things, I saw a pile of picture
books. My heart started racing. I asked whether I could see that particular bunch. The salesclerk said that they’d just come in, but that she hadn’t
had a chance to catalog them. I told her I’d go over them and let her know if I wanted anything.
I got lucky. In the array of Disney books, there was my edition of Cinderella. I cannot tell you how loudly I screeched or how high I jumped. I can
only say that the clerk was probably glad to sell me the book just to get me out of the store!
This may not seem like much of a thrill to you. To me it meant a lot. I’d been searching for this book for probably more than forty years. I can still
see the bus pulling away from the three of us down a dirt road as I cried out in frustration. The emotions I felt then are as fresh as the day it
happened. I don’t know why it was so important to me that I find this book again. Maybe I loved it because I had taken the words and pictures
into my heart. I knew Cinderella’s story as well as my own. I associated that book with the comfort of having adults who loved me indulge my
request for a moment of their time. I’d snuggle close as they read the familiar, beloved tale. For a few minutes, I’d escape to that French
countryside and watch Cinderella rise above a dreadful situation. I learned that tough circumstances did not make her miserable (except that
one time she cried before her fairy godmother showed up!) She did her work with a cheerful, uncomplaining heart and did her best, no matter
what the task. She made friends despite solitude, treated others kindly no matter how she was treated, and got help when she needed it most.
All in all, those are great life lessons to learn! I was fortunate to have them among my earliest memories.
Now that I’m an adult, I can buy whatever book catches my eye. I can drive myself to the library any time I am in the mood to get more reading
material. My home has always had stacks and stacks of books. We have read to my daughter from her earliest days. We are blessed.
This is why Bookworm Angels has captured my interest. It is hard for me to accept that there are children who do not have easy access to
books. I am sad that their parents may not always have the time or interest to read them stories. It is heartbreaking to think that they may not
even own their own books.
I’d like to change those circumstances for children in the Chicago Public Schools because that is the system that educated me from
Kindergarten to 8th grade. I got an excellent start from Louis J. Agassiz School and Oliver H. Perry School. I don’t think they exist with those
names any longer, but the buildings still stand. I owe them a great debt of gratitude. And, I would like to pay them back by providing at least one
school with enough books to either start or replenish their supply of books.
In order to furnish one new school with a full set of books for this program, I must donate about 6,000 volumes. To replenish an existing
program’s books, I must give them at least 1,500. That’s a lofty goal, but I hope to reach it. I’ll need help though.
In honor of Mama, all my generous and kind relatives, librarians and the teachers who taught me how to read, I would like to gather at least
1,500 new or gently used books. I am committed to giving at least 100 books myself. There are books from my childhood that changed my life,
broadened my world and raised my awareness. I hope to include as many of them as possible in this collection. If I find that I can do it, I would
like to give more than that number.
Will you join me in providing children with life-altering books?
My co-workers and I at Jewel-Osco collected books for Bookworm Angels as a company. That campaign has finished, but I will continue to
gather books for this group on my own. If you’d like to learn more about this organization, please visit www.bookwormangels.org. Together, we
might be able to introduce a child to his/her own favorite story.
Please contact me if you would like to donate one or more (hopefully, many more) book(s). My goal was to gather the necessary volumes by the
end of June, 2009. I have not yet reached my intended number of books, so I will continue to collect them until I do.
If you choose not to donate a book, I hope you'll take the time to read a story to a child or escape into a good book yourself!
Thank you!
Love,
Jo-Jo
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