<html><body><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000"><div><br></div><div>Today was a very happy day for me. I paid the largest library fine in my life. $182. (Previous record was $137). A badge of honor. I'm an incorrigible, undiluted bibliophile.</div><div><br data-mce-bogus="1"></div><div> Slightly more incorrigible than undiluted, though.</div><div><br data-mce-bogus="1"></div><div> Seven lost books. I never thought I'd ever reach such a milestone, but there I was -- at the library (not my place of work) paying a nice big library fine.</div><div><br data-mce-bogus="1"></div><div> So, while I was slightly embarrassed at losing the books, I had no shame. No shame for me.</div><div><br data-mce-bogus="1"></div><div> Meanwhile, the woman at the reference desk was profusely apologetic. She kept saying, "I'm so sorry." To be gracious, I tried not</div><div>reveal how immensely proud I was of paying this library fine.</div><div><br data-mce-bogus="1"></div><div> Having paid that fine, the goal of a $250 library fine becomes well within reach in 2020. If Eliud Kipchoge can run a sub two-hour marathon,</div><div>then I know I can pay a $250 library fine. It's mostly a psychological barrier. </div><div><br data-mce-bogus="1"></div><div> To reach that mark, I would need to set a pace to lose at least $70 of library books each quarter in 2020. I know I can do it if I really focus on being irresponsible. I need to find pace setters</div><div>to help me, though. I need to surround myself with irresponsible people so I can maintain that grueling pace. </div><div><br data-mce-bogus="1"></div><div> After paying the fine, I chit-chatted a bit with the librarian. As I was leaving, she inquires, "So, what do you do for a living?"</div><div><br data-mce-bogus="1"></div><div> "Me? Oh, I'm a coach. (pause) A tennis coach."</div><div><br data-mce-bogus="1"></div><div> (Phew, that was a close one.)</div><div><br data-mce-bogus="1"></div><div><br data-mce-bogus="1"></div><div><br></div><div data-marker="__SIG_POST__">-- <br></div><div><div>--<br>Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com<br>http://www.his.com/~pshapiro/briefbio.html<br>http://www.twitter.com/philshapiro<br>http://www.his.com/~pshapiro/stories.menu.html<br><br>"Wisdom begins with wonder." - Socrates<br>"Learning happens thru gentleness."<br></div><div><span style="color:rgb( 51 , 51 , 51 );font-family:'helvetica neue' , 'helvetica' , 'arial' , sans-serif;font-size:14px;background-color:rgb( 255 , 255 , 255 )">"We must reinvent a future free of blinders so that we can choose from real options." David Suzuki</span><br style="color:rgb( 51 , 51 , 51 );font-family:'helvetica neue' , 'helvetica' , 'arial' , sans-serif;font-size:14px;background-color:rgb( 255 , 255 , 255 )"></div></div></div></body></html>