The Diary - September 19
The Diary
September 19, 2026
My father always said I was a bit of a distracted driver. He was right. If there is a hawk flying overhead, a new building going up, or someone interesting strolling on the sidewalk, I cannot help but take a look.
It is a good thing that my pending move to Peoria will cut down the amount of time I spend driving to and from the bookstore. This week, I spent two nights in Peoria as I had after-hours events and the Airbnb was empty. My trip from the Airbnb to the Riverplex took 12 minutes and the journey from the Riverplex to the shop was even faster. Still, there were worthy vignettes along the way.
Coming down Main Street on Wednesday, an electric bike kept pace with me as we stopped at every unsynchronized stoplight. The rider was playing music. Very loud music. I lowered my window to listen. It was a bouncy German “Schlager” or “hit” with the refrain “Blasmusik spielen ist unser Glueck!” (“Playing brass-instrument music is our joy!”). I shouted “Jawohl” and the rider gave me a thumbs-up. The light turned green and off he zoomed. As I entered the parking lot of the Riverplex, he motored onto the Oktoberfest grounds. A German visitor helping with the event or a local starting his day with admirable oom-pah-pah?
When I left the gym, I noticed that a homeless couple was once again “living” in the bus stop at the corner of Water and Eaton. Their belongings were strewn on the sidewalk. They sat on the sidewalk looking so very lost. The bus stop had become a bus shelter. It is a depressingly familiar sight. Having worked in homeless services for many years, I understand why folks avoid some shelters. However, living in the public domain is untenable for these individuals and the larger community – and in this case the transit system.
My spirits were lifted, as always, when I passed Kelly Seeds & Hardware. The store’s bright lights were on, and the enormous shop windows gleamed. I can always make out something in the displays that I would like to buy. Out front, the canna lilies are five feet tall. It is a store with real presence.
Once I pass Kelly’s, I am almost at work. There is a left on Adams and then a right on Main. Turning the corner onto Main, I cannot help but shoot a sideway glance at the Reading Room and hope for a good day.