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I Work at a Public Library
I Work at a Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks | Gina Sheridan
87 posts | 69 read | 149 to read
Straight from the library--the strange and bizarre, ready to be checked out! From a patron's missing wetsuit to the scent of crab cakes wafting through the stacks, I Work at a Public Library showcases the oddities that have come across Gina Sheridan's circulation desk. Throughout these pages, she catalogs her encounters with local eccentrics as well as the questions that plague her, such as, "What is the standard length of eyebrow hairs?" Whether she's helping someone scan his face onto an online dating site or explaining why the library doesn't have any dragon autobiographies, Sheridan's bizarre tales prove that she's truly seen it all. Stacked high with hundreds of strange-but-true stories, I Work at a Public Library celebrates librarians and the unforgettable patrons that roam the stacks every day.
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Michael_Gee
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Dominic Chambers “Palace” 2023 on exhibit at the STL contemporary art museum. Chambers “sees the library as a literary palace filled with prescient voices housed in books.”

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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

Ate this up like candy, occasionally incredibly frustrating, occasionally hilarious, occasionally baffling, occasionally jaw-dropping, occassionally sweet, candy. My time in public libraries was infinitesimal and ancient but anyone who's spent time in customer service can also relate to these experiences. Highly recommend.

14 likes1 stack add
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Robotswithpersonality
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It's so CUUUUTE! 😂

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Robotswithpersonality
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The danger of homonyms.

julesG 🤣🤣🤣 5mo
7 likes1 stack add1 comment
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RedxoHearts
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Mehso-so

A quick read of short anecdotes and snippets from the author's time in the Library. Some are really fun and there are some cute ones. Mostly I know working as the "face of the library" to the general public would not be my thing ?

31 likes1 stack add
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Abe
Pickpick

Great collection of quotes/stories from a public library! My favorite stories are in the last chapter. They are about a book signing & a conversation with a spy!

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Fortifiedbybooks
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They ARE book fairies!

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erank58
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A little humor for my librarian/library volunteer friends! My part-time job at our local branch is my fondest high school memory...oh how the years go by. Sometimes I can't believe how time flies...make every moment count 😊

amywithbooks I started volunteering at the library in my hometown when I was 12 and then it turned into a job when I turned 14. Worked there through high school, it was the best job! 4y
ravenlee “And it was about...this...big?” 4y
erank58 @avgeyer I loved everything about it...especially the patrons 😊 4y
erank58 @ravenlee yep, sounds about right! 😆 4y
66 likes4 comments
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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So it turns out that lockdown didn‘t make me any fonder of shelving non fiction...

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Hestapleton
Pickpick

A funny little read about all the weird things people say and do at their public library, which is extremely relatable if you have worked in any sort of customer service/retail. Humorous and touching, it‘s a reminder of just how valuable libraries are. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A book that made me LOL for #booked2020

Crazeedi Sounds good, I saw a book called something like funny things people say in a library that sounded good too 4y
45 likes1 comment
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actualdisneyprincess
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Going into my third year of working in a library, and...yeah, this is pretty much my life. 😂 #iworkatapubliclibrary #ginasheridan #librarylife

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MissAimz_55
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Mehso-so

First finished book of February. It was just a random book I found when I was trying to find another library related book. This book was just ok, nothing to write home about but it wasn‘t a bad book either. Some of the stories had me laughing out loud but most were just okay.

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CoffeeK8
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Pickpick

A cute collection of vignettes from the authors time as a Public Librarian. Many were funny and sweet. However, it got a little repetitive at times

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Beccas
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Oh my word, is this book making me laugh 😆

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JulietReads
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Bailedbailed

I thought this was going to be really funny, but it just gave me a headache.

Cortg I agree! I have better stories about working at a library and I‘ve only been in the field a few years! 5y
60 likes1 comment
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hike.read.repeat
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Yesterday was a fun work day. I love spending other people‘s money. 💅🏽

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802Librarian
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My job has been very stressful on a personal level lately and today my brain has just given up and gone on autopilot. Which led to this telephone conversation:
Patron: I‘m just calling to confirm that you‘ll be open Saturday.
Me: We should be.
Patron: What would cause you to be closed?
Me: Snow.
❄️🤪
(Pic is my library.)

TrishB Made me smile 😁 5y
Samplergal Beautiful library. 5y
Aimeesue 😂😂😂 5y
Suet624 That‘s hysterical. 5y
27 likes4 comments
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802Librarian
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Today I went digging around in the old files to see if I could find our Trustee bylaws. Instead, I found this amazing list of all the Trustees since 1897! The longest term served was 33 years.

Crazeedi That is very cool!! 5y
802Librarian @Crazeedi It made my day. There was also circulation and librarian pay data going back to 1916! 5y
Crazeedi @NHLibrarian that's so great to have those records! 5y
Suet624 I used to work in the City Clerks Office and loved scavenging. What fun for you. 5y
26 likes4 comments
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MrBook
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This...has actually happened to me in a slightly different way! 😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 #LitsyLovesLibraries #LitsyHumor

annahenke There is a version of this for those of us who have worked as booksellers. I used to be the one everyone sent the “it had a blue cover” questions to. Those were the days. Sigh. 5y
PatienceFortitude It happened today! 5y
Leftcoastzen 😂 5y
See All 10 Comments
RadicalReader @MrBook do tell what happened in your scenario 5y
kspenmoll 🙌🏻🙌🏻😂 5y
Branwen Omg... 🤣😂 5y
MrBook @RadicalReader Well, we have express computers and regular computers. The difference is that express is good for only 30 minutes and we don‘t extend time, whereas patrons can stay on regular computers for 90 minutes and renew their time indefinitely as long as no one‘s waiting for a computer. I explained this to a patron who refused to believe me when none of the express computers were open but quite a few regulars were available. He... 5y
MrBook @RadicalReader ...insisted on waiting for an express because it was less time. 😳🙈🤦🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️😆 5y
MrBook @PatienceFortitude You too?! 😂👏🏻🙌🏻🍻 @annahenke I‘m that person now. 😎😆🍻 5y
RadicalReader @MrBook that‘s wonderful that your library has such wonderful limits on computer usage. The computers here allow only 60 mins 5y
87 likes10 comments
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Gnora
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Day One: My Library

"The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library." - Albert Einstein

#library30 #librarymonth #Litsyloveslibraries

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Gnora
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In honor of #librarymonth I'll be completing the #library30 challenge. 🤓📚

Librarybelle What a cool idea! Thanks for sharing, and I may have to do this too! 5y
6 likes1 comment
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Abe
Pickpick

Great read about what happens in a public library! Be sure to check out the section on children‘s happenings!

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Mowen036
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Pickpick

What‘s really crazy is that some of the stories in this book. I‘ve seen or heard or it‘s happened to myself.

TurtleLibrarian Oh yeah, this book hits the nail on the head for what it's like to work in a library 5y
hermyknee My friend just finished up her MLIS degree program, so maybe I should get this for her graduation gift! 5y
50 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Airykah13
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Gift from a friend 😂😂. There‘s never a dull moment at a public library. #24in48

19 likes5 stack adds
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sk888888
Pickpick

Short, cute, no real “laugh out loud” moments, but I did enjoy this book. Plus, who doesn‘t love Librarians?

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Gina
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Chrissyreadit ❤️💕libraries💕❤️ 5y
16 likes1 comment
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thebookishtype15
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Fairly new librarian and still in library school and my husband gives me this mug! Love it! Contrary to many beliefs of the "shhhing" librarian most of the time we encourage soft speaking patrons and in the teen and childrens departments rarely have the quiet rule. Just dont be obnoxiously loud.

I Work at a Public Library is hilarious and so true!

#librarianlife #library #libraian #teenlibrarian #adultlibrarian #mug #workmug

Lauram Welcome to Litsy! I just wanted to give your Litfluence a boost. 😃 5y
thebookishtype15 Thank you! :) 5y
Purrfectpages Welcome to Litsy! 5y
See All 12 Comments
BookwormAHN Welcome to Litsy 😺 5y
HOTPock3tt Welcome to Litsy! 🤗 📚 @thebookishtype15 5y
thebookishtype15 Thank you!! 🤗😁 5y
Atticus6905 Welcome to Litsy!!😃📗📘📙📖 5y
CoffeeNBooks Welcome to Litsy! 📚 5y
Lel2403 Welcome to Litsy 📖 5y
Jovy Welcome to Litsy! 5y
thebookishtype15 Thank you!!! 😁😁❤ 5y
53 likes1 stack add12 comments
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Abe
Pickpick

Great read with stories from a public library!

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Gina
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♡ing the new "one-click request" my library recently implemented. Truly, it is the small things that make my life sing a song.

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pppooraikul
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Yay! One more public library down. I‘m impressed with the collection and, of course, the tree house! 😍

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802Librarian
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I‘m waiting for my car to be inspected/repaired, so I‘m working on my book order at a cafe.

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Gnora
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Working in a public library means sometimes you get piles of new books taller than you are! 🤓📚 #NewStuffDay #LitsyLovesLibraries #LibrarianInTraining

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Gnora
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Nothing like a pile of new books to make the afternoon at the library great! 😍✨ #BookDropLife #LitsyLovesLibraries

EvieBee Ooh, I‘m on hold for this one! Number one but it‘s still in processing. 6y
SledgeReader @Gnora Awesome stack! Amazing library! #librariesrock 6y
3 likes2 comments
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MrBook
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This actually happened to a colleague! 😂👏🏻 #LitsyLovesLibraries #LitsyHumor

Leftcoastzen 🤣 6y
111 likes1 comment
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bell7
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Pickpick

#Librariansoflitsy listen up, because here's a book for you! And for other library workers and lovers, yes, but you'll fully appreciate the humor having had patron interactions like these before. Sheridan tells stories in Dewey Decimal order from computers (004) to strange birds (598) and more. I guarantee you will laugh at most and find the last section heartwarming and remind you just exactly why you became a librarian in the first place.

13 likes3 stack adds
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bell7
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Any public librarians out there recovering from tax season? We're still getting requests for forms as of yesterday!

RaimeyGallant Have you tried searching #librariansoflitsy? 6y
bell7 @RaimeyGallant I have not - thanks for the tip! 6y
6 likes1 stack add2 comments
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MrBook
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Something similar to the bottom one has actually happened with me 😆👏🏻. Got a good laugh out of that. 😁 #LitsyLovesLibraries #LitsyHumor

CoffeeNBooks 😆😆😆 6y
DebBates101 Those are so amazingly fantastic 6y
swynn That last makes perfect sense to me. I can't count the number of words I've mispronounced because I had only seen them in print. 6y
See All 7 Comments
Swe_Eva 😂😂😂 6y
AceOnRoam Earl. Bahahaha. That's so funny. We are in Europe at the moment and topping up our SIM data we asked for 10Gig. What they said? Oh, you mean Jigabytes? Yes please LOL. 6y
Jokila Next time, say *youre the Earl lol 6y
BookBabe 😂😂😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 6y
110 likes7 comments
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hike.read.repeat
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Happy National Library Workers Day to all the library workers in Litsyland! #nlwd18 Where do you work and what‘s your job? #nationallibraryweek

I worked at a public library for 4 yrs as a library asst. But w/ only 4 on staff, I got to do a bit of everything. From IT to ILLs to youth programs.

I‘ve worked at the nation‘s first all digital public library in Outreach Dept. since January. I travel the county and get people signed up for cards.

ReadingSusan I work in a city library and run all adult programming. 6y
16 likes1 stack add2 comments
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MrBook
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😂😂😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 #LitsyHumor

TheWildCard 😂😂😂😂😂 YES. 6y
knp4597 #stacked IMMEDIATELY 😂🤣 6y
kspenmoll 😂😂😂 6y
119 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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WellReadCatLady
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Cute and short book about working at a public library. Should be writing down my own experiences...

BookaholicNatty I saw this the other day and it looked soooo good! 📚 6y
18 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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TurtleLibrarian
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My co-worker is a display savant! This one is my favorite so far. Our Page was the body template. 😃

#librarianaoflitsy

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MrBook
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To end the day on a higher note with humor: 😂😂😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 #LitsyLovesLibraries #LitsyHumor

Eggs 👏🏻👏🏻 6y
tpixie 🤗😊🤣🤪 6y
Mdargusch That‘s how I felt when I checked a book out of the library this month for the first time in 20 years! 🤦🏼‍♀️ 6y
BookBabe 😝 6y
146 likes4 comments
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jamie_in_the_library
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Want to know what we do with all the stuff we find in #library books? We pin them up in the staff area! 🤣

#readingresolutions @Jess7

ReadingSusan That‘s awesome. 6y
JoScho Oh that is fun! 6y
MarriedtoMrT Yup! 🙃 6y
Soubhiville Fun! 6y
60 likes5 comments
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Librarybelle
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#LibrariansofLitsy - help out @BethwithBooks !

She is conducting a survey on American public libraries for her school project and issues of homelessness and drug addiction. Find the survey here:
https://worcester.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dilnfQB6kXSVCwl

Alfoster Very cool!😍 6y
LibrarianJen Awesome! I‘m not in a public library anymore 😕 6y
BethwithBooks Thank you so much!! ❤️ 6y
69 likes3 comments
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jackilynn
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Looks like another night at work spent fixing spine labels 🤓😜

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Megabooks
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Pickpick

I wonder how many Litsy librarians found this relatable. 🤔 For me, it hit the sweet spot between heartwarming and funny. Definitely a quick, enjoyable read! Recommend, especially for readathons when you‘re looking for easy, fun books.

Pictured: one of my fav libraries 😊💜

Tanisha_A Which place is this? 6y
Sarahreadstoomuch Loved this book, and could picture our patrons in some of those scenarios-which is funny or sad, take your pick. I passed it on to a coworker! 6y
112 likes9 stack adds2 comments
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hike.read.repeat
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Happy news: I now work at two public libraries! One is a small town library, and my new job is the nation‘s first 100% digital public library! I work for the outreach dept. My job entails going to events and giving presentations about our resources and getting residents signed up with a card. We have two physical (bookless) branches but all the resources are 100% digital.

This is one of our uniforms shirts. “What are you reading?” en Español.

hermyknee I need that shirt! I love it! 6y
hermyknee Also, congratulations on your new job! How cool! 6y
trazo Congratulations! Love the shirt! 6y
See All 7 Comments
CrowCAH Congrats; that‘s so exciting!!! 6y
That-Bookish-Hiker Congrats! 🎉 6y
hike.read.repeat @hermyknee @trazo @CrowCAH @That-Bookish-Hiker thank y‘all. 😁 6y
hike.read.repeat @hermyknee it‘s awesome right? I also have the English version. 6y
37 likes7 comments
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xicanti
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Here's another repost from my library. They've been prepping new materials!

MinDea Books come unsleeved and libraries have to put them on? 6y
xicanti @MinDea they take the dust jackets off to reinforce them with brown paper and plastic covers so they don't tear, then tape them onto the books. 6y
MinDea Ahhh. That makes sense! 6y
RebelReader So much work goes into us book nerds getting our fix and we have no idea. The magic just happens on our end! 😜 6y
45 likes4 comments
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WellReadCatLady
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Apparently there is a movie coming out in 2018 about homeless people staying overnight in a public library and a swat team/crazy amount of cops are called in, the librarians must decide what side they will help. As a public library employee I am interested and definitely going to see it. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Public_(film) #library

MarriedtoMrT This was shot at my library (well, the Main location. I‘m at one of the branches.) And part of me is not sure I can watch it. 6y
WellReadCatLady @MarriedtoMrT that‘s so cool and must of been so exciting! 6y
emtobiasz @MarriedtoMrT I kind of know what you mean. Just watching the preview for it made my heart ache. 6y
13 likes3 comments