I had a strange experience last evening. One of the gifts I received for my birthday
was a gift certificate at a well-known bookstore. This excited me on a number of levels because
since I started up with my Kindle I haven’t patronized what used to be one of
my favorite activities in the world - visiting a bookstore. The book geek in me was excited all day about
my pending visit. Following a later
afternoon meeting with the political bosses I made a bee line for the store expecting
the same feeling of coming home always got when I entered to check up on old friends,
like MacDonald, Sandford, Tolkien, Jordan, to mention but a few.
I was saddened to see how the once proud burgeoning book cases were
reduced. They were still there but
almost in a gesture towards a quaint age when people actually picked up a book
versus the new electronic media. Book
cases comprised only about 30% of this huge store with the rest given over to
gadgets and calendars. Even the smell
seemed different, an antiseptic, almost too clean odor. I remembered the pungent, slightly musty
smell of all those pages welcoming me and offering transport to the incredible
places bound only by my imagination. I
know I’m part of that generational move away from reading actual books and I
felt guilty – like I’d let an old friend down.
I apologetically cruised up and down every book aisle even after I’d
found what I wanted. I felt like saying
goodbye to the cherished vestige of something that sustained me for so many
years.
My wife extended her stay up in Maine for an additional day.
That comes in the “no huge surprise” department. When you put the musqueteras together it
becomes scientifically difficult to separate them from each other. It’s rarely done on a voluntary basis. She’s going to ply her newly discovered long
range driving skills today to return home.
I just talked to her and she’s not even stressing – yet another epoch
level event. Is nothing in my life
sacred from change?
Well it is First Friday!!!!!
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