“Librarian’s Shelf” by Robert Trautwein

"I Feel Bad About My Neck" While “I Feel Bad About My Neck…” is definitely not a “man’s” book, I found it a hoot! The author, Nora Ephron, whose credits include the screenplays for “When Harry Met Sally”, “Sleepless in Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail”, is both flippant and frank about women and aging in this essay-type book. Growing up in a household of three teenage sisters and a menopausal mother, I was accustomed to the smells of permanent-wave solution, fingernail polish remover, peroxide, and perfumes. In the winters, I had to stoop to walk through the doorways in our farm house as nylons and sugar-stiffened crinolines hung from them. Back then, a woman was considered middle aged at 40. Hair dye was in its infancy and only used by “harden” women. Botox treatments, face peels and lifts, tummy-tucks, and liposuction were not even a part of the 1960’s vocabulary. Nowadays, there are some cities—particularly in the Los Angeles-area--where there’s not a wrinkle or a grey hair to be seen. In her essays, Ephron addresses a number of indignities of aging. For women in their late fifties and early sixties, maintenance becomes a second career. Eyelid tucks and sagging jowl lifts are becoming everyday occurrences. A few years ago, women would go into seclusion following such operations. Anymore, at a trip to the grocery store you might run into a woman just recovering from some sort of cosmetic surgery. Being bruised for beauty’s sake has become a badge of honor. Although the book was written from the perspective of a woman, a man will enjoy reading it as well. Women should be admired for their constant effort to look their best at home, at the office, or at a party. Men just slouch into old age while women seem to grasp for and cling to every medical procedure and moistener to fend off the process. Her essay on her neck is particularly wicked but provides succor to all of us who are over 50. And while she hates to admit it, Ephron is aging too. Some of her essays-- those related to the loss of friends and the separation from children-- have their serious side. If you have enjoyed her movies, you will enjoy “I Feel Bad About My Neck and Other Thoughts of Being a Woman”. Recent donations to the Columbus Library Foundation include those in memory of Ellene Saunders from Sandra Riley and Barbara Gerhold. Please be reminded that the Library Foundation accepts bequests of property, including stocks and bonds. A local attorney or a trust officer can assist the donor make those arrangements. The Library welcomes volunteer assistance in shelf reading a small portion of the book collection. If you would like to “adopt” an area of the shelves, please contact the director to learn how you can help the Library keep organized by volunteering twice a month for about 40 minutes at a time.