carrels and anonymity

 Ninth floor stacks and the lights are mostly off. I walk along the bookshelves labeled with the "B" Library of Congress classification. The motion sensors overhead begin to sequentially turn on the lights along where I pass through. I notice a designated lockable carrel by the wall at the end of one aisle. It had floral decals and fake vegetation that festooned the inner walls. This person must be in a PhD program--that much homey-ness is likely for a long academic life. 

I didn't find a book worth borrowing--I still had 2 on loan from this library anyway. I have 3 loans from the public library. Will I finish any of those 5? Slim chance. Maybe. We'll see. 

I enjoy old libraries especially when rarely occupied, but I get a little spooked sometimes when I entertain my weird imagination. In those moments, I'd walk briskly towards the elevators and go to a more occupied floor. 

This particular library guard began to recognize me for being a frequent visitor. We wave hello or goodbye when I ingress or egress. I almost didn't have a choice when the first non-verbal acknowledgment happened, because I didn't want to be rude. A part of me wished that I remained unfamiliar and anonymous to this guard. I suppose it's much safer and less suspicious if guards were familiar with patrons, eh? Or it's customary to acknowledge regulars...I shouldn't over analyze.