You know what I don't understand? Why people think I'm going to remember them when they come to the circ desk at the library. I mean, yeah, I remember faces as much as the next person. But there is only a certain number I'm going to register before they all start to run into each other. A couple minutes ago, a girl came up to me all smiley and familiar like and told me she "got the email." Now I ask, what does that mean to you? I'll tell you. It means nothing. There are any number of emails she could have gotten. I'm not a mind reader or a palmist. I'm a circ desk worker and they pay me minimum wage.

The other thing I don't understand is why people think that, by virtue of my job here, I am obligated to tell them whatever they want to know about me. Like the Chinese boy who asked me to help him find a periodical and then asked me about my life history and what my stance on Harry Potter books was. I don't prod you at your photography job and ask about your love life, do I? No. So stay out of mine. "Can you help me find this book?" is not a pick up line. And if you think it is, let me tell you it's not a very good one.

Of course I know one must make allowances. The man who came up to the bridge desk smelling very strongly of something that was not sobriety and who proceeded to make me write down the names and call numbers of all my favorite books was well within his rights. Call numbers are something of an FAQ. Just, you know, most people ask for them sober. But whatever floats your boat.