I’ve been running a shipping and receiving department here, getting lots of Katie’s used college books sent to folks who can’t wait to read those hefty tomes. One one the books was Virgil’s Aeneid. Normally, when someone requests a book, I just send it out. However, books are not supposed to have any marking in the text, and these (including The Aeneid) do. Therefore, I am required to send to the requestor a message describing the marking(s) and asking whether s/he wants the book.
Below is a recent dialogue I had with a lady I’ll call Sue (not her name, and since I don’t actually know her, I’m changing all her other identifying information, as well). Bear in mind that people from all 50 states swap books on this site, and the United States Geological Survey says there are 3141 counties or county equivalents in the US and District of Columbia.
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Me: “Our copy of The Aeneid was my daughter’s college textbook. It has some pencil underlining and marginal notes. I am willing to go through and erase these, if you’d like me to. I believe pbs’s policy is no markings in books, but textbooks are exempted from that rule. I want you to be satisfied with the transaction, so please confirm that you still want me to mail this book. Thank you!”
Sue: “Hi! Thanks for your honesty about the condition of the book. I am a homeschooler, so sometimes I don’t want marked up books, but in this case it is fine. Thanks, Sue”
Me: “Great! We are homeschoolers, too. Four kids now 18, 17, 15, and 9 – always homeschooled, but the oldest just finished her freshman year of college. I’ll finish erasing the pencil from The Aeneid and get it in the mail to you ASAP.”
Sue: “My three boys are 15, 13 and 10 (I can’t believe they are that old!) Really, you don’t need to bother erasing the pencil marks or even rushing out the copy. My older two are taking a course next fall based in the Veritas Press Omnibus and I am gathering 4 copies of all the books (gotta love PBS!) so that I can read them too and my 10 yo can at least follow along, so the copy doesn’t need to be perfect. Take care. Sue”
Me: “I was wrapping your book, didn’t know where XYZ City, VA was, and googled it. I was surprised to see that it’s in Loudon County! Our daughter is a student at Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, which looks to be only about 20 miles from your location. She also helps lead a homeschooling discipleship/mime ministry for young people there.”
Sue: “Hi, Patricia. How’s this for a small world: The class my children are going to be taking next fall (that I am buying the Aeneid for) is going to be taught by a professor from Patrick Henry, Professor H in the English Department. When I read your email, I was online researching a house that is 5 minutes from the college which we might buy. Where is your family located? Sue”
Me: “My daughter just read this thread over my shoulder and we are both amazed! She says Dr. H is just wonderful and very sweet. He walks around the college lake every day praying for his students. He carries index cards with the name of each student. Our daughter just completed his course, Western Lit I, and The Aeneid I’m sending you was one of her readings for that class! She TRULY liked having him as a prof. Maybe those markings I didn’t erase really will be helpful to your son. = ) We live in southwest Missouri, in an unincorporated spot in the road called Walnut Shade. It’s a long drive from Purcellville to Walnut Shade. Our daughter did it in two days and just arrived home Saturday evening – with all these books to re-post.”
Sue: “Hi Patricia, Definitely don’t touch those margin notes on the Aeneid! That is so funny. I know Dr. H’s wife, F, pretty well. Two of her children are in my oldest son’s Latin class. They are the most amazing family. They were missionaries in Thailand for 20 years. They have three girls they adopted from there, all of whom were considered unadoptable (plus six biological children). People gravitate to F because you can just feel the holy spirit in her. Your daughter is far from home! If you want, save my PBS email name and if you ever need any information for her (a doctor’s name or where to buy something, or I don’t know what) feel free to ask. Take care, Sue”
Me: “Thanks for your kindness. I will archive this thread and let her know she has another “friend” in the PHC area. It’s always helpful to build a support network, and yes, she is VERY far from home. It’s been a big adjustment for our family, and we are (jokingly) telling our other children they will be required to attend a college within a six hours’ drive. = ) The Hs sound like a wonderful family. Nine children and 20 years in Thailand. WOW. What a dad. He surely has made an impression on our daughter. We also adopted one child (American) and have a bit of a connection to Asia, as our family is involved in a ministry to the underground church in a closed country there.”
Sue (after she received the book): “Thanks so much! I told F. H. about the “small world” of this book and she thought it was a riot. Blessings, Sue”
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That whole interchange just AMAZED me!
