I am a sucker of tiny books and I found a small book titled “Observer’s Book of Horses & Ponies.” I’m also allergic to horses so I won’t be doing any horse or pony observations. However, the book is so cute and tiny. And I like reading about the horses and ponies…that I can never ever touch.

I went to St. John’s thrift store and purchased a very strange and slightly disturbing book: Diana for Girls, 1974 – apparently a 70s girl’s comic book that features lifestyle, fashion, and music advice for girls. Most of it is in comic book form, like one of the strips tells the tale of a normal girl who was ugly so her parents suggested she go on a diet. She did, and then became popular and hot. There is also some fascinating and strange music references. A lot of them have to do with weird British pop bands. My favorite page is “Pop the Question,” which features some of the following questions:

Name the Osmond Brothers

What colour are Mick Jagger’s eyes?

Is Rod Steward married?

Which American duo sang, “Man of Learning”?

I really want to turn the whole book into some sort of wallet, purse or jewelry, but I can’t bring myself to destroy it and tear apart the whole composition.

I did find something interesting inside, though. I couldn’t find the publication date of the book but I did find a note inside:

To: Emily W. Johnston

From her husband

Lewinsville

July 7th, 1866

I find this fairly fascinating. I wonder if they mean the section of McLean that is covered in Lewinsville names…like Lewinsville Rd. and Lewinsville Park. Anyway, someone who has been in McLean for a long time must have donated it. There is another one I left there if anyone wants it. Another Dumas novel. I forget which one. A little piece of McLean history.