Talking books keep Bowers occupied
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Harold Bowers of Marion can't see very well but he has keen hearing. The talking book service provided through the Library of Congress has proved to be a boon to him.
Bowers turned 90 in February. He was diagnosed with macular degeneration more than 15 years ago. He is legally blind now and can't read, but has enough eyesight to get around.
Talking book service is provided to Harold through Manhattan Public Library. He was furnished a special cassette player which uses the four-track, half-speed Library of Congress format, allowing each tape to contain from four to six hours of playing time. This cuts down on the number of cassettes needed to produce a cassette book, which can range from one cassette to as many as six or eight.
This special format makes the talking books unusable by the general public. Only those who are registered talking book patrons are issued the special machine. The tapes provided by this free program cannot be played on a regular cassette machine purchased at a store.
Harold receives tapes postage-paid through the mail. A holder on the outside of the cassette book case contains a card with his name and address. To return the book, he turns the card around, reinserts it in the holder, and the return address is plainly visible for mailing.
Harold is especially delighted with the portable nature of the cassette player. It runs on rechargeable batteries, so he can take it with him wherever he so desires.
He and his wife, Virginia, live at 404 E. Santa Fe. They own a plot of land across the alley and east of their house. Harold calls it "the back 40." He maintains a garden and lawn there. He said the garden makes him feel like he's accomplished something.
Whenever he works in his garden of broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, and zucchini, he takes his player with him. He also likes to listen to talking books as he relaxes on the front porch.
The couple spends winters living in their RV in Terlingua, a town in southern Texas, and, of course, the cassette player goes along.
Harold spends a lot of time outside, cracking pecans, keeping the bird feeder filled, and listening to talking books.
"These same books play in Texas, even in Oklahoma," he joked in feigned wonder.
Terlingua is a desert area.
"This winter we had a four-inch rain," Harold joked. "Two drops, four inches apart."
He said the desert flowers are beautiful in the spring when it rains.
He especially enjoys westerns. He thinks he's heard about every book written by Louis L'Amour.
Each talking book begins with information on the author, copyright, number of pages, and a synopsis of the story.
Harold has other gadgets that prove useful to him. Most have been gifts from the 10 children he and Virginia have between them. Both are in their second marriage and recently celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary.
By pressing buttons on a talking watch, Harold can hear the time of day and date.
"This watch goes to bed with me, gets up with me, and goes everywhere with me," he said.
He also has three talking thermometers, two in the home and one in the camper. By pressing a button, he can hear the outside and inside temperature.
A voice caller ID alerts him when someone is calling. The voice and telephone number of the caller is heard. Harold can hear messages by pushing a button on a answering machine.
The memory button and number 5 on a cordless phone are marked with bright orange paint to guide Harold in its use. The numbers of all the children are recorded in the phone, so he can call them by punching a few buttons.
The number 5, "time," and "start" buttons are marked on the microwave, aiding Harold in its use.
He avoids sitting at home and feeling sorry for himself. He enjoys walking downtown for coffee every morning.
He said he used to go to meetings of the so-called "Glamour Club" at the drug store, but lately he's been going to McGillicuddy's. The couple goes to Marion Senior Center every day for a nutritious meal.
"We pay $5 for the two of us. How can you beat that," he said.
"I have so much to be thankful for. "I've had 71 years of married life to two fine ladies."
He said the talking books have given him something to keep his mind occupied.
"When you've lost your eyesight and you have something else to take its place, it helps. It's a blessing."
