Me, the Corner-Folder

A few years ago when a friend lent me her book over the summer, I remember telling her, “Don’t worry, I use bookmarks. I don’t fold corners. I don’t roll covers. I don’t make marks …” 

It has always been my intent to return a book in the same condition in which it was lent.

But in recent months I’m almost horrified to realize … I have become a corner-folder!!

How could this happen?

Me. A lover and respecter of books and all things book related. Now I am dishonouring these best-loved items by folding over corners?

And to top it all off … yes, I admit it here for the first time … I have been rolling covers back as I read. You know, the front cover and all the pages I’ve already read are rolled back in my left fist as I read on.

What has happened to me?

I wonder if it goes along with that whole over-a-certain-age-you-don’t-care-what-anybody-thinks-anymore season I’m in.

I find myself compelled to analyze this:

- I don’t fold corners to mark the last page I read. I still use bookmarks. I love bookmarks. Give me a bookmark for Christmas and it’s like I just won a trip to Disneyworld.

- I fold corners when I don’t have a pen and paper (or my quote book) handy to write down something I want to remember … something I deem quotable.

- If the deemed-quotable quote is near the top of the page I turn down the corner at the top. If it is near the bottom, the corner at the bottom is turned over. Then, when I’ve had a chance to write down the quote somewhere, I unfold the corner. It’s a very organized system. And yes, if the deemed-quotable quote is in the middle of the page I really DO sit there thinking, Now what?? I have a hard time deciding whether to turn down the top or the bottom corner in that case. I’m just finicky like that.

As I analyze this further I realize that I am only a corner-folder-cover-roller on my own books.

Thank heavens I still respect other people’s books.

This recent realization has brought me to wondering … what else is going to show up? If the corner-folder in me rearing it’s alluring head these days really has to do with the over-a-certain-age-you-don’t-care-what-anybody-thinks-anymore season I’m in, then what else has been lying dormant, ready to pounce when I’m least expecting it?

It’s like the secret rebel in me has been waiting for this season of my life. Who knows what will happen next. Yes, you can still lend me a book without risk of it returning to you damaged. But who knows how long that will last? I certainly don’t!

Should I be seeking help?

Or should I resign myself to the fact that the secret rebel in me will inevitably appear from time to time? And just look forward to the surprises?

Hello, my name is Joyous and I’m a Corner-Folder.