promises, promises
Monday, January 12, 2009 at 02:37PM 
My dear Grandmother loved books. She loved reading, but there was something special for her about actual books. In the few years before she died, I was able to travel out to CA to help her photograph and catalog most of our family's antiques and heirlooms which would make the Antiques Roadshow blow a gasket, I'm sure. She was concerned about who would want what, and whether she should establish the monetary value of each item before deciding. To me it really didn't matter, I already had my treasure... that time spent with her. But what she said to me over and over (as some relatives howled and clamored about whether I was doing it to get all the "good stuff" for myself) "I want you to take my books. Promise me you'll keep them safe, there are some real treasures there..."
After she died, the dust of said relatives rummaging through her things finally settled. One afternoon I went and sat in her office, filled with files, pictures, and those books. The stitched and glassy eyes of her (bizarre in its enormity) stuffed animal collection watched as I just sat there, not knowing where to begin. If I had a U-Haul I couldn't get all of that back to NY with me, and where would I put it, how could I possibly keep it safe? My Grandpa came in with a little pile of 3 books and said, "she wanted me to hide these for you, until you came". Her worn out bible, a journal of wisdom scribbled on slips of paper, old checks & index cards (labeled with a yellow post-it on the front " "My Little Packet" mostly memorized"), and the copy of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" that I had given her for the Mother's Day that turned out to be her last (inside joke, of which she got the last laugh). I did, after all, get all the "good stuff"!
I did my best to take what I knew was most important to her, and each time I go back I'll get more. Certain rare editions were given to libraries, as she wished, and although I still can't bring myself to read her own "little packet", I have it here with me. (Is it possible that her memorizations linger in the air? Feels like it.)
It wasn't until I realized that the scope of this CPSIA law extended to books that I became overwhelmingly emotional about it. I couldn't figure out why at first, that the very thought of a child being banned from a library or denied any access to books in this country brought on a flood of tears that I couldn't contain. My business is at stake, and everything I have, literally, is in my business at this point. And the economy, and the thousands of small businesses; the very community of "cottage industry" that I love could be destroyed. That infuriates me and makes me want to fight. But just today I realized that it's my promise to my Grandma to "save her books" that makes me want to run out and scream in the streets, that doesn't care if I am hauled off to prison, or even how crazy I might look for seeing the deeper implications of what something like this means for the future of America.
In trying to not let my emotions get the best of me, I am looking for the most effective ways to go about this fight. My Grandma loved Dr. Ron Paul, and it turns out that he was the only member of Congress who voted against this bill when it was made a law back in August. There is something so patriotic about the fact that we can't say that it was "unanimously" voted in that gives me hope. So, I called his office this morning to ask how we can best spend our energy. An aide told me that we are indeed "being heard", that all of the talk is getting to Washington, and in fact that it was brought up in a meeting this morning. He said that the most effective thing we can do is to put pressure on Congress to re-write the law
(see links below).
I believe in our system, flawed as it is. And I also believe in another system that is flawless, that promises that good will come of everything. And I believe in keeping promises.
Look up the contact information for Congressman ~ A call is more effective then e-mail
Look up the contact information for your Senator~ A call is more effective then e-mail
Love, To the moon and back
CPSIA
Reader Comments (3)
I'm crying and not because of the lame law. Great post!
Heather, thanks so much for this brilliant posting.
Your Grandma was one smart woman! Dr. Ron Paul has my heart also! I love that he is the champion of the Constitution!
And, we all know that the CPSIA is unconstitutional!
That's why we just keep fighting the good fight!
LOL (Lots Of Love),
Leah.
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/
http://www.yaliberty.org/change/
Thank you, Ladies. And AMEN, Leah. Let them haul me off to prison for selling orgainc nursing pillows... the mere I read it, the more I realize our businesses are the least of what is at stake. Apparently they underestimated Momma-Power! (thanks for sharing...)
xo
(updates on the CPSIA page you can click on the top of that list over there <-----