In 2019, I volunteered for the first time at the LA Times Festival of Books, as a bookworm. I had many volunteers under my command and we helped run the autograph line for the young adult section. I was able to recruit Katherine in 2022 to join me post-pandemic to do it yet again as a team running the autograph lines for the general book signings. We met some interesting authors, and saw how passionate some people were for certain authors. It was cool seeing a different kind of fandom aside from the weebs we’re used to interacting with at Anime Expo.
2023 was no different as we continued to help patrons line up to get book autographs with their favorite authors on the USC campus. Despite it being a hot day, we were entertained thoroughly with our acts of service.
Of course the craziest part of the day was seeing all the Stans line up for Lois Lowry, author of Number the Stars and the Giver. It was almost as long as a typical Phil’s bbq line. I made sure to snap a picture with her. It was rewarding and simultaneously exhausting.
We hope to be an old couple dedicated to service in the future, as we approach retirement age. Just another 30 more years to go.
