Monday, March 29, 2010

Do What You Love

Dropping by my local library a week ago, I looked around toward the desk to say "hi" to my favorite librarian. I didn't see her and figured it wasn't her Sunday to work.

A few more steps and I came upon a picture of her, surrounded by fresh camellias from someone's yard. Joyce. That's the only name I knew her by. She'd died two days earlier, suddenly of a stroke at the age of 58.

Since then I've learned that she -- Joyce Bingham -- was a lot of people's favorite librarian. Many people looked around to say hello when they came in the door. Now there are notes around her picture acknowledging that: "...I never even knew your name..."

The obit in the News & Observer said she had lived a "vagabond life" settling finally here in Apex, North Carolina. Her philosophy: "Do what you love, Love what you do! Bloom where you are planted!" She certainly bloomed at the Eva Perry library.

Notice of the memorial service requested: "To reflect Joyce's spreading of sunshine to all who knew her, the family requests no black attire."

Do what you love, Love what you do. And don't delay getting around to it.











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10 comments:

Lynne Wogan said...

Awww sorry Peggy...sounds like a special person Makes me want to appreciate Sue more at Holly Springs. I always look for her and we exchange offbeat memoir ideas. Yes wear something colorful in your friends honor

Peggy Payne said...

Your memoir ideas interest me, Lynne. Are you working on one?

Lynne Wogan said...

Oh, no...wouldn't know where to start...guess it would be something about making my way sans kids AND grandkids even trickier..solo through a thorny culture of couples with kids and more kids.....would anyone buy it? I just read them. Most anyone pop culturey...you would probably approve...people like Courtney Love and Liv Tyler AND their mothers, and most anyone who would appear in the Enquirer ..or living in some odd place like Afghanistan. One eccentric American opened a beauty shop there.

Peggy Payne said...

Please let me know if there's a particularly wonderful one that I shouldn't miss.

Debra said...

Beautiful souls leave behind beautiful memories.

Funny, I recently was accused of NOT wearing black to my brother's funeral during a deposition. This was an accusation made by my brother's widow as if that was something that actually mattered on the day my brother was buried. I applaud Joyce's family for opting out of the "black" rule. Unfortunately, I actually did wear black to the funeral and now I wish I hadn't.

Hugs,
Debbie

Anonymous said...

There is always something jolting when you hear about an unexpected death like that. Your mortality flashes before you. She sounds like a wonderful woman. RIP

Peggy Payne said...

I'd say your sister-in-law was taking out her grief on you, Debbie.

Debra said...

"Taking out her grief on me." Very interesting perspective, Peggy.

Peggy Payne said...

I hope I wasn't speaking out of turn on that one.

Debra said...

Not at all, Peggy! I always appreciate your thoughts!