BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

[Mark Joel Lane]

    My wife and I and another couple took a vacation  about two months ago from our New York residences to Boston, Massachusetts. The other couple wanted very much to visit the JFK Library and Museum. To me, a library was not my first choice, but we did go there aside from seeing more of what Boston has to offer on the other days we visited the city.

 

To me a library is books....a lot of books and being quiet. My memories of being in a library during my school years was that everyone was very  quiet..especially in the school library. Aside from school and the Queens public libraries here in New York City, on a rare occasion, I visited the main branch of the New York City public library on 5th Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan.

 

Anyway..my expectations at the JFK Library were not what I thought. I was pleasantly surprised with many interesting and fascinating videos and JFK memorabilia. The librarians here were very accommodating too. All I had to do was show some personal ID, and BINGO...I had a temporary Boston public  library card.

 

I was allowed to take out up to 5 books with my temporary card. I took out 3 : "Profiles In Courage", a book about the Mercury Space Capsule on display  and a book about Ted Williams and the Boston Red Sox.

 

It was about eight weeks after our trip to Boston when I realized I  was supposed to return the books over a month ago in the postage paid envelope provided by the JFK Library and Museum.  Yep...I forgot to mail them back. I had overdue books before but never dealt with the Library Of Congress Police.  Aside from sending me letters and leaving phone messages , I got an E-mail from James Comey. the current director of the FBI.  I was informed that if I did not return the books immediately, I would receive a hefty fine and a likely prison sentence.  !!!! OMG. 

 

Well, I did mail back the three books by express mail right after I heard from the FBI. I'm usually not so negligent and tardy in these matters . I usually never procrastinate so much but I didn't think the JFK Library and Museum would care if I kept the books a tad longer than I was supposed to. I'm sure they have other copies.  Anyway, if I ever go back to Boston again, I'm not going anywhere  near the JFK Library and Museum or for that matter  near  Fenway Park either. My photo remains on the walls of these places as a registered Sox offender for the next 5 years.