WHO IS ODASIS?

I worked on the reference desk at a branch of Los Angeles Public Library today. It's something I really enjoy, particularly when kids come to ask questions. A little girl handed me a scrap of paper with the word odasis written on it. "Is it the name of a book?" I asked, "Or a person's name?" She really couldn't tell me. I then asked, "Is it for school?" She replied, "No. School hasn't started yet." Questioning her further, I said, "Do you know what it's about?" She replied, "Myths." I began to say the word out loud "O-day-sis, Oh-dah-sees." Suddenly a light bulb went on. "Let me spell it a different way," I said, entering "Odysseus "and"juvenile" in the keyword search field on the computer screen. I showed her what I had found and she agreed it was exactly what she was looking for. We placed a hold on the book, which was located in another library, and she went away with a big smile on her face.

EACH LEG IS 20...

It's MY Birthday! Last year at this time, I was asked how old I was. I replied, "My right leg is 20..." It's not about how old you are, but how young you feel.

I have received several birthday greetings, among them, the one pictured here ('Leonard Lion' by Sarah Battle (c)2004), from a long-time leonine librarian friend of mine, who never forgets this day each year. The phone and cyber-wishes have made this a very nice day indeed. An interesting one was at Jon's Market, where the shelf restocker called me 'Morkoor jan = Auntie dear' ; the meat-cutter called me 'Mama' ; and the Armenian cashier commented on the good food I was buying. When I said it was for my birthday, she and the box-girl sang 'Happy Birthday'! The store manager, who was standing by, shook my hands and congratulated me.

BTW: My left leg is also 20; my right and left arms, 10 each; my two eyes and the tip of my nose, 3 each. That's a lot of years to celebrate!!!