i gave elbert a sweetgrass sage bundle for his retirement. he looked a little blank. i explained trying not to be too meta that if he gets in any trouble burn this and it will help. he thought of death, said, i know two librarians died when they retired. i said well, i didn't mean that much trouble,

it won't keep you from dying, but it'll help you to live, i say. then i got a picture of it resting at peace in his everything drawer.