Wayfinding a life book cover by book cover

I came to the city not knowing as much as I would. I came to the city not knowing who I would become but I came fearless thinking I already did. All I really knew then was how to find a way. A way through to some sort of authentic existence I could survive and even thrive in. I was 24, a single mom with a less than two year old baby girl. I came determined to make a life for us. I came for jobs and for daycare and for community. I found all three. Joy came on Saturday afternoons as baby girl grew up from day care to kindergarten to grade school.  After errands and housecleaning and laundry and grocery shopping and a week of work -none of which drained me- sheltered in my young body-resilient to fatigue-I had energy to find my way through words and stories. Stories I found in books on shelves in bookstores. An explorer without a compass or a guide I still found a way to find me and more. Now I see it the same as how  I found my way through the woods on the other side of the fields surrounding the red farmhouse I was always escaping. I, at age 5, already knew every piece of thirty acres of land. I could find my way to the creek, and back without anyone ever showing me the way. Now I was finding my way through the shelves of books on Elmwood Avenue. Starting down near Bryant St there was the bookstore across from Hello World, and then off to the women's bookstore, and then the bookstore on the second floor above the yarn shop. If time allowed and the baby girl wasn't too tired we went all the way over to Main St and the old Talking Leaves. I found everything there, I found the world I wanted to live in. No one told me who to read. I decided. I would read the first few paragraphs and I would read the book cover notes on the back. If an author was recommending I would then go find that author's book and read the first few paragraphs of their book to decide which book I wanted. I had little money. But I bought books and read books and drank good coffee in deference to clothes or furniture or toys for the baby. I bought her books too. Back home spread out on top of the freshly laundered sheets and quilt we would spread out our newly acquired treasures and read and nap together. Satisfied by another Saturday full of exploration and adventure one book jacket at a time.