In Massachusetts, Harry was featured and pictured numerous times in both of the daily papers published in his community, discussing the $1.1 million state grant he had won for the town, toward a $2.8 million renovation of the library.
In one of the articles, Harry was quoted as saying "I'm a truck driver's son from a truck driving family. Thanks to libraries I had the opportunity to attend an ivy league university and have a wonderful career. We are in the business of providing tools so young people from any background can 'pull themselves up by their bootstraps.' When libraries were introduced, only the rich could afford books. Now libraries are providing the same kind of universal access to computers, the internet and other electronic information resources." Not a bad way to make a living!
Most tiring news was that Harry and his tiny staff moved an entire 70,000 volume library, and all its equipment, to a temporary location at the Town Hall. The project began to inch up toward the 3.5 million dollar mark after asbestos was discovered throughout the building. Instead of working in the 1966 wing of the building, while the 1914 part was renovated, they closed down for two weeks, sorted and boxed about 50,000 books for storage, boxed another 20,000 to take to Town Hall, packed up, moved, and set up a brand new library in June, 1998.
As described in the "books" page, Harry Browne's seminal book, How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World led Harry to the only writings he considers "sacred," the writings of Ayn Rand. (See links and books pages.) More people call her masterpiece, Atlas Shrugged, the most influential book they ever read, than say that about any other book except The Bible. Read it! You'll see why our "church" is of Gold, Not God.
None of that means that Harry is mean or mean-spirited. One of the most unfair assertions made about Atheism is the contention by some believers that, without religion, humans would be cruel and immoral. Many Atheists are generous, friendly people who enjoy "doing good." Harry recently walked with fiancee Jody in the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life," and they support many causes - rational, make-this-life-better causes. It is interesting that most wars have been fought between religious rivals (to borrow U-2's title) "In The Name of Love."
In accordance with his nicknames "Lucky" and "Ziggy," Harry was driving to the hospital after work on Wednesday the 5th, to see how the labor was going and bring daughter Heather some flowers. This was 24 hours after paying $420 to winterize the car and "hold it through Spring." His transmission died on a scary highway in the cold night. Getting towed took over two hours. He had to hitchhike to work Thursday morning. The car was in the shop for over a week and the repair cost another $670. In the meantime he went to see baby and mother on Friday, with a borrowed car. Rowan was so beautiful and lovely and loveable (in Harry's not so humble, and very prejudiced, opinion) as to make it all worth while!
Rowan rapidly grew in both size and skills. She had lots of baby talents. She slept more readily and longer than her Mom did at her age, so Harry's "Just wait until YOU are a parent" fell flat. He doesn't really mind. He got to babysit, along with his lovely fiancee Jody, a few weeks ago and had a wonderful time. His face did hurt, afterwards, but only from smiling so much. When this page is updated, there'll be lots more about Rowan as a four-year-old!
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