I hate to follow-up Dana's very beautiful, touching and serious post with this, but I feel compelled to let you know what is going on in the world of dictionary pricing!
My friend and coworker, Jack, has a hard cover dictionary on his desk. I think this is a very cool thing, and it made me want to be like Jack. So, I have been searching for an unabridged dictionary.
Why unabridged, you ask? Well, I was looking up the word "folderol" or "falderal", depending on the dictionary, and ALAS! It was not to be found! I was referencing a Webster's New World Dictionary at the time, and was shocked! Shocked, I say! that my word was not listed. The only reasonable thing to do would be to purchase an unabridged dictionary. I am nothing, if not overboard.
My loving husband was taking the boys out for the day soon after, and I asked him to check on said reference material. He returned sans dictionary, and reported the cost as being $69.99!! Now, if this were a handbag or a pair of shoes, I would give said purchase consideration, but a dictionary? Nay, beggar!
I understand that a reference book is a purchase not made often, and the price must be higher, but my delicate sensibilities were offended!
What is a language lover to do? Compromise, of course! I went to the used book store and found a student's dictionary, containing the word that started this entire endeavor, and purchased it for $7.
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