Yes, Phyl was a librarian before she became a librarian. Our bumper sticker, bookmarks, license plate holder were all “I’d rather be reading.” She was extraordinarily well-read. Most nights, she fell asleep with an open book on her chest. When the kids were little she read to them nearly every night. There are lists of books to be read all over the house. She read a ton of children’s books, pet and vet books, juvenile lit for school, and poetry. Each year, she’d dramatize the stories of Mark Twain, Shirley Jackson, Edgar Allen Poe, and Dr. Seuss for the students. But most of her reading were mysteries, biographies, and off-kilter fiction.
From the time we met, she always lugged around her LL Bean canvas bag of books and folders to read. The beach, airplanes, kids’ events, 35 years of teaching, every day, that large, heavy bag went with her. Often, I’d tell her how much better she’d feel if she didn’t have to lug it everywhere. But she was Phyllis, and the bag was too.
When we first dated, Bobby Orr and the hockey Bruins were the biggest thing in Boston. My friends and I would stay up all night, in line, in the cold of Boston Garden to score tickets. Phyl would sit with us in the second balcony, while the place was going crazy, and read Agatha Christie. That’s when my friends knew our relationship wouldn’t last. She loved mysteries. She read all of Agatha, Sue Grafton, Anne Rule, Mary Higgins Clark, Alexander McCall Smith, Joanne Fluke, and was on Lawrence Block.
There are more big, fat biographies in this house than clothes. They predominantly fall in two categories; Kennedys and historical English royalty. She had great expertise in both. And passion. She knew more about the Kennedys than they did. And was fiercely loyal. If you dared diss a Kennedy, Phyl’d go for your throat. Only once I mentioned Chappaquiddick and found myself out on the street.
If i had to choose her favorites, I’d say Ray Bradbury and Garrison Keillor. She has all their books, tv, records. movies, and myriad news and mag articles in her library subject folders. They are the two biggest files of her bazillion clippings and lessons from her 4 drawer bedroom cabinet of author, holiday, event, and curricular files.
She loved her library, as did everyone, staff or student, at school. It was an incredible trash dump when she came to PHMS, and she took great pride in making it the center of the school. And especially, a center of literature. Its raison d’etre; her readings, book fairs, lessons, events, were all designed to share her love of books.
We’re so,so proud of you, myphyl.
