Perfect Bookstore Day

Today was the absolute PERFECT bookstore day. A little cloudy and damp... you can feel Autumn hiding around the corner. A constant flow of customers, slow but steady. Leaving me time to talk to everyone that came in... like 'old home' week... but still keeping me on my toes. Catching up with a lot of the 'regulars' that I haven't seen in a while due to our conflicting vacation schedules, or sadly illness on their part was my job #1 today.

The store came to life as old friends bumped in to each other and talked for hours. Kids sprawled on the floor reading, bargain hunters lost track of time downstairs in the AWESOME CHEAP BOOK section, friends stopped by with their new puppy. But what really made my heart swell with pride today was that two women who didn't know each other when they walked through our doors left together... new friends. One, a newly retired and lonely woman... the other a wonderfully kind older woman with many years of experience at being retired. Ah.... I am sure the first one won't be lonely any more.

Another 'regular' hasn't been in for a while, Esther. She ALWAYS has a kind comment about our store... but today she was a little under the weather. She told me she is recovering from a broken hip and just HAD to get out of the house. She chose to come to Chicklet Books because we are always so happy and cheerful... and she needed cheering today. As we talked she made me realize that I need to take time to 'stop and smell the roses'. My job of running the bookstore and buying books requires me to move at a fast pace... but on days like today I get to reap the rewards of all my hard work. Esther made me sit back and really LOOK at what we have created here... a safe, fun and creative atmoshere designed as a community meeting place. Esther left the store with a smile... and I wonder if it is because I made her happy, or because she taught a 'youngin' a thing or two. Maybe a little of both.

Oh... as an afterthought I should mention that sales weren't so bad either :-)

Deb