The tale of the returning book. A young girl gifted her father a book that was sold almost 40 years ago from now, in the year 1984. This book which was gifted to her father, was returned to her when she placed an order for that same book on the occasion of her husband’s 83rd Birthday. Surprised? So was she!
Mrs. Ford, brought up in Lake District, had presented her father with the gift of “The Collected Works of Aldous Huxley”. On the 25th of May 1984, as was dated in the book, it was seen that Mrs. Ford (Ms.Ford back then) thoughtfully presented her with that book on the eve of her father’s retirement.
The remarkable journey of this book began when Ros Ford decided to buy another copy of “Texts and Pretexts” for her husband Adam’s 83rd birthday. Her search led her to the online book warehouse ABE Books, where she placed her order. However, what transpired next was beyond her wildest expectations.
The book arrived at her doorstep, and as she opened it, she was initially taken aback. The book lacked its original dust cover, making it appear quite different from the one she had remembered. Curiosity got the best of her, and she started to flip through the pages. To her astonishment, she stumbled upon something extraordinary—her own handwriting. The book contained a dedication that she had written to her dear old dad back in 1984.
The discovery left Mrs. Ford in a state of both disbelief and profound emotion. The message, penned by her younger self, was a heartfelt dedication to her father. In 1984, she had purchased the book for him as a thoughtful gift, a way to help him reflect on life as he entered retirement. Little did she know that this book, with her loving inscription, would reappear in her life almost four decades later.
In an interview with BBC Radio Cumbria, Mrs. Ford shared her sentiments about this extraordinary turn of events. She expressed,
“It was a book I thought about over the years, but I didn’t recognize it at first because it had no dust cover.”
The emotional impact of this rediscovery was undeniable, and Mrs. Ford decided to further commemorate the occasion by adding a dedication to her husband Adam within the same book. The book, once a gift from a daughter to her father, had now become a poignant symbol of the love shared between a wife and her husband.
The story takes an intriguing twist when we delve into the origins of this serendipitous reunion. The book had been sent to Mrs. Ford from a bookshop located in Whitehaven, Cumbria, owned by a man named Michael Moon. Mr. Moon, upon hearing about the unique circumstances surrounding the book, expressed his delight at being a part of this heartwarming event.
The coincidence of this event was indeed remarkable. The book had traveled through time and distance to find its way back to the very person who had originally chosen it as a gift. It is a testament to the enduring power of literature and the deep connections that books can foster between individuals.
For Mrs. Ford, this unexpected reunion with the book brought a flood of memories and emotions. It served as a beautiful reminder of her love for her late father and the love she continues to share with her husband. In a world filled with fleeting moments, this story stands as a poignant reminder that some bonds can withstand the test of time and that books, with their ability to capture moments in history, can be timeless vessels of love and remembrance.
As for Michael Moon’s bookshop in Whitehaven, it remains a place where such heartwarming stories are born, where books transcend their pages to become cherished tokens of love and nostalgia. The story of Ros Ford and her unexpected encounter with a book from her past serves as a testament to the enduring power of literature and the profound connections it can forge over the years. It is a reminder that sometimes, in the unlikeliest of circumstances, the past can resurface to touch our hearts once more, leaving us with a sense of wonder and gratitude for the mysteries of life.
