Bookstore Musings
Apr. 23rd, 2006 02:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trystinnThere's something rather interesting about the role the local bookstore plays in small town life and how our citizens utilize our resources. We are some folk's first stop for copying and faxing needs, odd given we have a large office supply shop with such features offered surely at a much more technologically advanced manner than our own humble acid-paper fax and single sheet copier. We are a free Wi-Fi spot and I spend as much time chatting up books as I do helping folks use their brand new laptops (we must be mentioned in their manuals, one supposes) and hooking into our network. I'm fortunate if one in three folks who come by the store actually buy a book or three. And yet they come. And on a sunny afternoon like today, we will cover needs such as an emergency restroom, the locator of good pastry for tourists and yes, possibly even, sell some books.
"Nice young couple came in earlier, husband was a double-hand amputee with utility prosthetic "pinchers" and watching how tenderly and carefully he turns a page warms your heart. Such dedication, such respect. Very friendly folks those two, insisted on whispering the entire time they were in the store. I've yet to figure out why they do this, perhaps its because NPR is playing on the store's stereo, but its always a bit whimsical. More so due to the fact that our tiny local library is a bustling, loud, gregarious place where kids play videogames on the pc's and shout their victories, all apparently with the librarians' approval.
Two young men came into the store today, newly assigned to NAS Whidbey, and looking for books on local trails. Now, I'm not one who minds if folks chatter away on the cell phones while I ring them up as long as they are doing so in a quiet enough manner and don't curse while children are around. Most often, I'm amused they can get cell phone service in here - we used to have a sign in the store warning folks about this. Now our sign reads "Unattended children will be given a triple shot of espresso and a free puppy". I make them and do a fairly good under-the-counter business in such signs - possibly am the only source for laminating nearby?) I'm tempted to change the sign to read "triple shot of espresso and a free hamster"
Three parents came in to the store with their children to introduce them to the new bookstore bird - a cockatiel named "Darwin". Now five months old, Darwin is warming up to us, but still remains rather aloof. Local writers come into to make sure we're still holding stock, always assuring us they "have more in the car, if needed". The real fun is when folks come in looking for local authors' books and I can introduce them to the author, standing in the next aisle. Doubly so, when one gets to introduce two local authors to each other!"
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"Vickie, our dear little Myjestic Seeker, came with us to our coven's public Beltane (friends and family, very informal). She had a ball, so came by the store with her hubby to express her gratitude, once more. And another time again in email - polite gal, our Vickie. Promised to come back to the store nearer to closing with a fudge sundae, I just adore friends who drop in with a soda, snacks or chocolate!
And, for those wondering, we spoke to Austin yesterday (another 4am moment) and assured him that Danielle has been safe in our care and not out cavorting with men. Seems like he's calmed down a bit, but being in hospital due to 3rd degree burns on his hands has made his life a very small, scary place. And these letters were more than he could handle. Things are much calmer, and appear to have blown over.
Hard to imagine on such a lovely spring day that places like Afghanistan exist, much less that our loved ones are there. I so rarely see any news on the battles and killings in Afghanistan. The war we forgot, apparently. We are so sheltered here on our little Island despite the military bombers and jets training overhead, the young, tightly wound military folks with their "high & tights" and the constant chatter about what's new at the base, what squadron is leaving or coming home, we rarely take note of the reality of our military presence in other lands." Our eyes are drawn to the sea, the grey whales moving through our waters and the blossoms on every hill.
"Nice young couple came in earlier, husband was a double-hand amputee with utility prosthetic "pinchers" and watching how tenderly and carefully he turns a page warms your heart. Such dedication, such respect. Very friendly folks those two, insisted on whispering the entire time they were in the store. I've yet to figure out why they do this, perhaps its because NPR is playing on the store's stereo, but its always a bit whimsical. More so due to the fact that our tiny local library is a bustling, loud, gregarious place where kids play videogames on the pc's and shout their victories, all apparently with the librarians' approval.
Two young men came into the store today, newly assigned to NAS Whidbey, and looking for books on local trails. Now, I'm not one who minds if folks chatter away on the cell phones while I ring them up as long as they are doing so in a quiet enough manner and don't curse while children are around. Most often, I'm amused they can get cell phone service in here - we used to have a sign in the store warning folks about this. Now our sign reads "Unattended children will be given a triple shot of espresso and a free puppy". I make them and do a fairly good under-the-counter business in such signs - possibly am the only source for laminating nearby?) I'm tempted to change the sign to read "triple shot of espresso and a free hamster"
Three parents came in to the store with their children to introduce them to the new bookstore bird - a cockatiel named "Darwin". Now five months old, Darwin is warming up to us, but still remains rather aloof. Local writers come into to make sure we're still holding stock, always assuring us they "have more in the car, if needed". The real fun is when folks come in looking for local authors' books and I can introduce them to the author, standing in the next aisle. Doubly so, when one gets to introduce two local authors to each other!"
[object Object]
"Vickie, our dear little Myjestic Seeker, came with us to our coven's public Beltane (friends and family, very informal). She had a ball, so came by the store with her hubby to express her gratitude, once more. And another time again in email - polite gal, our Vickie. Promised to come back to the store nearer to closing with a fudge sundae, I just adore friends who drop in with a soda, snacks or chocolate!
And, for those wondering, we spoke to Austin yesterday (another 4am moment) and assured him that Danielle has been safe in our care and not out cavorting with men. Seems like he's calmed down a bit, but being in hospital due to 3rd degree burns on his hands has made his life a very small, scary place. And these letters were more than he could handle. Things are much calmer, and appear to have blown over.
Hard to imagine on such a lovely spring day that places like Afghanistan exist, much less that our loved ones are there. I so rarely see any news on the battles and killings in Afghanistan. The war we forgot, apparently. We are so sheltered here on our little Island despite the military bombers and jets training overhead, the young, tightly wound military folks with their "high & tights" and the constant chatter about what's new at the base, what squadron is leaving or coming home, we rarely take note of the reality of our military presence in other lands." Our eyes are drawn to the sea, the grey whales moving through our waters and the blossoms on every hill.
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no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 12:05 am (UTC)Glad to hear that the situation with Danielle and Austin has resolved itself.
You must enjoy the people watching at the store. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 12:22 am (UTC)I think the thing I enjoy MOST about the store is the people watching. Could write an entire book on the subject of how folks behave in our store. I'm still in awe of our double-amputee - one wonders the ettiquette of shaking his "hand".
Came home to a house full of activity, Danielle is cooking and chuckling along to "The Vinyl Cafe" on NPR, the dogs are milling about sunbathing, hubby is outside cursing at the tree roots, rabbits goofing around eating dandelions and almost all eleven hamsters exploring the nooks and crannies of our very large hamster habitat.
Its a good life and a joy to share. Glad to hear folks enjoy the details. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 04:50 am (UTC)your bookstore sounds like the kind of place I'd love to visit regularily :)
no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 10:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 11:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-25 02:27 am (UTC)Sounds like fun :)
no subject
Date: 2006-04-25 05:05 am (UTC)