The Real Collection

I started out as a book collector—seeking out, buying, displaying, and preserving books related to the life and works of Lewis Carroll. But while I still love my collection of books and related artifacts, it has brought me over the years a much more valuable collection—one which has enriched my life at every turn. Book collecting has brought me a collection of friends the world over. This past weekend I had the honor to host a meeting of the Lewis Carroll Society of North America in Winston-Salem. We had academic talks, the world premiere of a new play, a concert of songs that were known to Lewis Carroll, and even an Evensong with music sung at Christ Church Cathedral in the year that Carroll first told the story of Alice in Wonderland. But above all we had a chance to connect with old friends and new. Some of those attending I have known for more than twenty-five years. I have vacationed with them in Vienna and Scotland and Niagara Falls. I have stayed in their homes and they have stayed in mine. Others I met for the first time this weekend and with them invitations to visit or to dine have already been shared. Books brought us all together, and there was talk of books this weekend—but there was also talk of many other things; of family and travels and all the events and people and experiences that have connected us over the years. When the dust settled my wife and I were exhausted, my books were well-examined, but most importantly my friendships were developed and expanded. I suppose that my collection of books is worth a lot, but my collection of friends those books have led me to is priceless.