The Mistress of Slang

chronicle.com

52 points·samclemens··5 comments

(the original link wasn't loading for me)

Also, the fellow tasked with sorting and cataloging the dictionary collection at the Lilly Library at Indiana University is keeping a blog about the treasures he comes across: https://blogs.libraries.indiana.edu/lilly/2023/02/08/unpacki...

You know, it's nice that she had discerning tastes and collected many rare and valuable works, but this article seems to be a sugar-coated profile of an inveterate hoarder. She wouldn't have rated an article if she had collected newspapers or cats instead, but it seems equivalent.

It seems rude to die intestate, without organizing any of this stuff or having help in that regard and to just offload the burden onto the (very elderly) next of kin and executor.

Personally I believe it's a human duty to be prepared for our own death. We should provide for the circumstances that will result after we are incapacitated or dead, and we should consider the burdens taken on by our friends and family, and ways to ease their suffering after they have lost a loved one.

I can tell you that even with a will and funeral/burial plans in place for my parents, it will not be easy for me and my sister to transition to life without them.

I love an unabridged. Especially one older than 20 years or so.

Specialty dictionaries are another source of fascination but I have only found a few of these where this lady managed to find 1000s.

You have to appreciate the singular commitment to something she cares deeply about.

This is a beautiful article, thank you.

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