By Adeloa James, August 17, 2011— My familiarity with Philadelphia is better to the seven churches in the Bank of Revelation. I never thought I would live there. But one of my daughters got a job at the University of Pennsylvania after her residency in Pittsburg in 2001. That began my relationship with Philadelphia. As life will have it, before the end of that year, another daughter who was living in New York decided to move to Philadelphia. Her first visit convinced her that this is the place for her and her three-year-old daughter, away from the madness of New York!
We all find Philadelphia a beautiful place, which offers a lot of facilities for learning, entertainment, and growing. As the girls first lived in Center City, I enjoyed walking around, shortly after our arrival I came across the Free Library—that name still fascinates me—what does it really mean? Is it a library you can use free of charge? Or is it a place where you can find freedom? Or does it simply mean everyone is welcome? Perhaps it has something of all of these, for since I have become a member of the Free Library, it has become one of my best sources of joy, happiness, and fulfillment. It is the Free Library that has given me the opportunity to be part of this writing class, and I do love it. It is opening up my life to a bigger world, I have met many interesting people, all of us on a journey and willing to stay alive in our time, and pass on a legacy of wisdom and power.