June 24, 2025: The Page Parade

In my childhood, only one thing could rival the ice cream truck.

During the summer, another vehicle rolled into our neighborhood, much quieter than the circus-music van of frozen sugar. And it offered something maybe even more satisfying. Some of the treats were sweet, while others stirred a different kind of hunger.

What was this mysterious wonder?

The bookmobile.

Oh, the memories of climbing those steps into the cooled interior and breathing in the scent of paper. The library-on-wheels handed out books like candy, feeding our imaginations during the vacation months.

I remembered that experience today when I read about the Traveler Restaurant in Connecticut.

The original owner, an avid reader, ran out of space at home. So he brought a few thousand volumes into his restaurant and told diners they could take one with them.

New owners kept the tradition, and now every guest can choose up to three free books with their meal. They give away around 100,000 a year.

Yes, the magic of reading is still alive.

And the best part… paperbacks melt a lot slower than popsicles.