I am a University of Massachusetts alumnus and I live in the Pioneer Valley today, fifty-four years after graduating from the Amherst campus. I have been privileged to receive correspondence regularly from my Alma-mater. A new periodical was delivered a few days ago. U Mass Magazine contains interesting local pieces that at first glance appear to be highlighting university graduates who have an interesting story or accomplishment to share.
I am taking a moment this month to highlight one story that resonated with me. On page 10 an Ari Jewell wrote a piece about a used book store located in near by Shelburne Falls. He titled the story Curiosity Shop. For the past decades the book shop has been owned and run by another U Mass grad, Nancy Dole ’65. Why reflect here about Nancy L.Dole’s Books & Ephemera store? I am glad you asked.
I have mentioned before my love of browsing through used book stores. Over the years I so enjoyed the hunt, the feel, the atmosphere and yes, I admit, the smell of an old book. My children were all asked to accompany me for hours while I browsed many old stores wallpapered, floor to ceiling, with books interspersed by a few comfortable reading chairs. Looking for the rare 1st edition was the hunt but finding any interesting read was the treasure. I called the activity booking. Old stores were booked from Cape Cod, the Islands, through Boston. Southern Vermont down the Connecticut River Valley, Peekskill, Poughkeepsie New York, Nashville Tennessee, Greensboro North Carolina and Baltimore were booking targets too. My children are now all adults but I get a warm feeling when they call me to share their latest find from a used book store. They grew to love the hunt too!
Back to Nancy Dole’s Shelburne Falls shop, Books & Ephemera. Finding her story in the magazine rekindled memories of a few purchases of poetry I found there years ago. (Always looking for Frost and Emily Dickinson ephemera!) Ari Jewell’s article has a quote of Nancy’s that I share here with you.
“One thing I love about the book business is you never stop learning , because you learn from your customers,” she says. “I graduated a long time ago, and I don’t know how much longer I can do this, but I have to say, I love coming to the bookstore every single day.” Nancy, It has been too long since I visited your beautiful store in Shelburne Falls. Stay open, I will be back soon!
My current page turner in hand is Stephen E. Ambrose’s 1990 biography. Eisenhower, Soldier and President. It is a heavy paperback published by Simon & Schuster. At 655 pages including an extensive index, I have to admit I am only about 300 pages into it. President Eisenhower has always intrigued me. I was born the year Harry S. Truman was sworn into his second term as President. Dwight D. Eisenhower of course was a two term President from 1953 until 1961. I have memories of becoming more aware that our country seemed to be peaceful. While a youngster my father and uncle contributed to my inner peace as they were quiet about their service in the Pacific and Europe during the last few years of W.W.II. My earliest memory of any national news affecting me was the polio epidemic accompanying the first polio vaccine that scared my shoulder. My naively calm countenance of pubescent life was shattered when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Seeing a tear in Walter Cronkite’s eye closed the door on my young utopian bliss and welcomed in the age of endless wars, assassinations, polarization and greed. Actually, that time period is not true. It was not JFK’s assassination that awoke in me the realization the world was not always a pleasant Captain Kangaroo neighborhood. The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis was the OMG moment of my young life.
The biography of Eisenhower, written by Stephen Ambrose, is one of twenty-five works of history he penned. A few listed from the back cover of my copy are as follows; Undaunted Courage, D-Day, Citizen Soldiers, Nothing Like It in the World and Band of Brothers. Ambrose draws upon extensive sources, an unprecedented degree of scholarship, and numerous interviews with Eisenhower himself…………..
I find it intriguing that Dwight D. Eisenhower was one of three generals that fought for our Country in historic wars before being elected President. The other two generals were George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant. The calmness I felt as a youngster coming of age in the latter 1950’s is not a surprise when you consider that, since the 1940’s to the present day, Eisenhower was the only two term president that had no kinetic war erupt during his term of office. Remarkable for the Allied Commander that led the opposition to Hitler’s fascist regime during World War II. ( Of course the Cold War between U.S. and the Soviet Union should not be ignored.)
I am sharing a few paragraphs here that focus on General Eisenhower’s humility and grace!
On page 143 Ambrose recounts the General’s attitude about accepting money from Hollywood after the war for the rights to his biography. He replied, I can understand your feelings…but my own convictions as to the quality of a man that will make money out of a public position of trust are very strong. I couldn’t touch it—and would never allow such a thing to occur. We don’t need it anyway it’s fun to be poor!
On page 206 Ike displays his grace. General Eisenhower was asked by Winston Churchill to be present for the celebration of victory at Guilderhall, in the city of London. This was to be held on June 12th, 1945. He reluctantly agreed to give the principal speech at the event but he asked that the ceremonies “be such as to avoid over-glorification of my part in the victories of this Allied team.”
Then Eisenhower began his speech by saying that his sense of appreciation for the high honor being done him was tempered by a sense of sadness, because “humility must always be the portion of any man who receives acclaim earned in the blood of his followers and sacrifices of his friends.”
As I reflect this month about the serendipitous nature of when and how a book like this finds its way into my hands, I must admit reading about Eisenhower’s life satiated my appetite for reading about a commander who’s leadership was seasoned with courage and humility. My daily plate of current news and events has been lacking humble pie smothered with compassion and empathy. Each daily meal presents me with a dearth of humility, grace, empathy and compassion. I am struck by the metaphor of the hundred seagulls edging just above the waves screaming me, me, me, me, me as they fight over wounded bait fish. Oh wait a minute, that can’t be happening right now, Congress is out of session!
Thank you for reading!
Be at peace and joy.
Mark