Comic Epitaphs and Thanks

Well folks, my mom's surgery is done, and tomorrow I'll be back. In the meantime, please help me in thanking gef for the time we spent together. She really saved my butt and then proceeded to kick it with her great book selections. Slaughterhouse is the book I'll be sneaking into her house to zoink while she's away on vacation... but don't tell her I told you that!

In celebration of the return home, I wanted to mention this little book as an aside. I found Comic Epitaphs from the Very Best Old Graveyards (gathered by Peter Pauper Press with illustrations by Henry R. Martin, 1957) on the shelf at an amazing thrift/junk store here in Tidewater Virginia, and recognized it as a title that was always around the house when I was wee. Even though it technically isn't a children's book, I was obsessed with it throughout my adolescence and thought the selections both funny and outrageous... with a mild hint of the hallowed.

Even more than the book, the store really blew my mind. It was as if someone took all the contents of my childhood home and dumped them in one cheaply-priced place. They had mint condition school supplies from the 70s and 80s (some of which I actually remember) plus toys, board games, Fisher Price Little People sets, books and albums... all from when I was little. Literally, I almost freaked out in there and blew every last dime I had. However, I remained calm and only bought a few things: some Burl Ives, vintage Disney and Smurfs on LP... a mid-century recipe spiral... a handful of books... and I couldn't resist this Great Space Coaster Super Fun Pad for 25 cents. You know you want it!