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Our first snow since the fateful late October one and it is melting away into slush. Ugh!
Business partner, Eugene, is recuperating in a Boston hospital from a fall on some ice, Jan 2nd, which did a real job on his knee and femur. He's waiting to hear what the next step in his recovery is. Please wish him the best. The store is in good hands with the regular staff and long time consignor and bookman Steve O'Halloran to take some of Eugene's hours until he returns. If Eugene is going to have a cast for a while it might be time for us to look into an outside handrail for the front steps. It's at times like these that one feels so closely the fragility of life, like a strong cool breeze out of nowhere, it comes. Okay, meanwhile, books keep being bought and books keep being sold. People young and old keep reading. We had a great PAPERMANIA show in Hartford this past weekend. An upbeat way to start the year. I've begun to read MOBY DICK for the first time in between some fun and popular novels and mysteries. Figured it was about time to read more of the classics. What are you reading? Another year is beginning in the earth's cycle. I can't help but wax meditative at this time of year. Go inward for a bit. What joys, what tears are ahead?
Personally, I enter another decade in several weeks. My mother turns 90 years old soon, the first in our extended family to reach that age. Grandson Calvin is 11, and the owner of his first cell phone. Vibrant and lively nieces are mapping out their futures whether it be medical school, politics in Washington, D.C. or continuing a love for horses at Albion College. I have been selling books, paper and post cards in the Pioneer Valley for almost 30 years, 20+ of them at the Whately Antiquarian Book Center. Can't imagine doing anything else as my main "job". Feel very fortunate to be able to make a living working for myself in the book and old paper world. And to be able to work with my husband, Peter, who knows so much about paper, ephemera, documents, photos, autographs, dolls, antiques and history of all kinds. And how to navigate through the happy and sad rhythms of life. So back to books and the rhythms of the book store. What a wonderful New Year's Eve afternoon at the store! Steady flow of customers all day buying interesting books. Young people, families, vacationers heading north, WABC fans introducing us to friends and regulars seeing what's new. Many staying for an hour plus, having time to get lost in the stacks on this special, relaxed Saturday. My thoughts of closing early (happily) flew out the window and when I ushered the last customers out at 5:45 (new arrivals in the valley), though tired, I was very satisfied with the end to 2011. Our best day all month! May that portend a hearty 2012 for ALL used and recent-to-rare bookstores in the universe! We wish for all of you folks out there in the ethernet reading this, and who venture inside to us brick and mortars once in a while, the best of health, safe travels and scintillating and thoughtful reading in this newly minted year of 2012. PS. Fred is well and very lively as usual. Helping me to keep one of my New Year's resolutions of "more walking". Woof, woof he sends his regards. |
What's up (and down) with the used and rare book world... the weather.. and thoughts while walking Fred!
Book selling musings by Barbara and friends. Categories
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