Strange experience today

[historynut1876]

Today I added a book to my collection. Yeah, big deal. Well, for me it was. Almost 11 years ago a I lived in a different state and was moving back home again. I was very depressed and had gotten rid of numerous books because I wasn't in my right mind and had to lessen my load. I greatly regretted this and have since repurchased many of those "lost books" on the Internet along with many others. However, there was one book that I just couldn't remember the name of, or author of, and figured that I would just live the rest of my life never seeing it again. Well, today I was out walking around during my lunch break and passed by a used book store with $1.00 bookshelves outside the store - many of them. I was only walking by, mind you, but one book just caught my eye. Again, I had no recollection of the book's title or author, but as soon as I saw the spine of the book, I just knew. I lunged for the book, knocked an old lady down, trampled an elderly man, but I got my book. It was in excellent condition (just about new) with a dustjacket! Pretty cool for a $1.00 (originally $19.95), considering I thought the book was lost to me forever. If I had just turned my head to look at the book racks a second later, I would have missed it.

[Scout]

ok Historynut, you could at least tell us the name of the lost grail...or do you want us to beg? I mean you did knock an old lady down to get it!

[historynut1876]

Well, if you insist: Beyond the Stars by David William Ross. Anyway, it's not the book, it's the idea of accidentally finding something after so many years that you thought was lost.

[ma dawg got et]

historynut1876

Years ago a friend found one of those turn of the last century "boys adventure" books (kid meets Custer, scouts with him etc) at a library sale for 50 cents.

Over the years, somehow it got lost. I tore the house apart looking for it when I began consolidating my Custer Indian Wars collection. Nada.

Then a few years ago, I suddenly decided to type it into google which led me to bookfinders.com. And there it was, but considerably more than 50 cents. Sigh. But they had it, for about $15.

I like to collect the "children's" books that revolved around Custer, especially the "boys adventures" from the turn of the last century. They are insights into the total hero-worship of GAC at that time.

alfuso

[Jas. Watson]

I can top that one....Years ago some books 'got away' like you speak of, then years later--probably at least 15, I was in a used book dealer's and saw some similar books and looked in the one I wanted. And there on the flyleaf was my grandfather's signature--it was not only the same book...it was THE same book!!
But I didn't buy it
just kidding, of course I bought it!

Jas~

[harpskiddie]

I have any number of "strange experiences" but only one of them involves books, and it pales in comparison tp those above, especially Watson's. Here's a good one, I think.

In 1975, before I married her my wife's maiden name was XXXX [it was XXXX before that too, but this story occurs in 1975], and her given names Mary Victoria. Being an RN, and having to sign oodles of stuff each day, she always used her initials M.V XXXX. One day, I bought a really cool navy blue overcoat, which went well with my light blue suede pants and big black boots. I thought I would add a cape to sort of give the impression of a cavalry greatcoat [and add protection to my shoulders], so I hied myself gown to the local War Surplus store.

Arriving there, I found that they did indeed have capes, courtesy of the Royal Canadian Air Force [why airmen needed capes was beyond me, but who cared?], but they were black in color. I thought what the hell, black'll do and asked where they were. The salesclerk pointed to a large wooden crate brimming over with mussed up black things. I picked up one and asked if they came in sizes. He said "No - all one size. Just make sure you get one with all the buttons - there should be three .

The one I had picked up had no buttons, and the second one had only one, but the third had the requisite number of buttons, so I tossed it to the clerk, who put it into a big paper bag; paid my 6 bucks [pretty sure it was 6 bucks] and toddled home to our attic palace. When the old lady came home, she asked what wa in the bag, which I hadn't yet opened, and I told her, adding that it was "genuine Air Force surplus." She asked how I could tell, and I took it out of the bag and replied that it would have the Canadian Forces mark inside [which was a C with an arrow through it]. She asked "well is it there?" and I opened the cape and looked and there it was, so I held it up and said "SEE?" She asked "whats that other tag inside there?" and I looked and said "Oh, it's the guy's name that had it in the service. Oh. Oh."

The name on the tag was V.M. XXXX

Gordie,
I looked at her, she looked at me - I stole a kiss, and oowoowee - my heart started beating Gum Drop, Gum Drop; lips kept repeating Gum Drop, Gum Drop..............................