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Bookstores, and What They Mean

Apparently in the world of blogging, Wednesdays are supposed to be wordless. But after seeing this article on facebook, it is hard for me not to take a trip down memory lane, and even harder for me not to share those memories with the world.

It's finally happening, for real. Borders will no longer be in existence by September. This is a poignant moment in and of itself simply because it indicates then end of an era for books and readers. But more than that, it made me start thinking about the impact of bookstores on my life. I have never been the biggest Borders fan. I have always preferred Barnes & Noble, mostly because they brew Starbucks coffee and have (in my opinion) a superior system of organization. It's more than that though. Barnes & Noble played a huge role in my formative years.

When I was small, my family regularly made outings to the bookstore. We would go as a family, get hot chocolate with whipped cream, and spend hours in the children's section reading books together. Usually, at the end of said outings, we were allowed to pick out one book to take home with us. It was peaceful, fun, together time, and to this day, I always make a point to visit the children's section of the bookstore, simply because it brings back so many good memories.

 My dad and I have always read books together. He read to me before bed every night, even into my teenage years. As I got older, our bookstore outings became joint hunts for the perfect new book to read together at night (the only mistake we made was when I was in 6th grade and we chose Jane Eyre).  He always read what I was reading in school, and even now, we usually share books or read them at the same time so we can discuss and enjoy together. Many of our special father/daughter dates have been a trip to the bookstore. Few people understand how to companion-browse at the bookstore like my father does. He is great at going our separate ways to browse in comfort, and joining back up at exactly the right time to compare finds and help make decisions about purchases. When  I was in high school we always made special trips together to get the novels I would need for my literature classes (I always bought my own copies rather than using the school books because I wanted to be able to highlight and make notes in the books themselves). These moments, though superficially insignificant, are one of the most meaningful parts of my relationship with my father--something that is unique to the two of us, that we don't really share on the same level with anyone else.

When I was in high school, my friends and I used to go to to the local B&N, get frappucinos and look at trashy magazines. We would spend hours talking and laughing, and then go pick out an intellectual book to buy to make up for all the stupid nonsense we had been enjoying. Coffee, books, and NERTS games made up most weekend nights during my teenage years.

Like any teenager, I fought with my parents. When that would happen, and I had to get out of the house, I would go to Barnes & Noble and wander the shelves, inhaling the scent of paper and coffee until I felt calm enough to  go back home and make up with my family. Bookstores are still the most zen places for me, giving me an instant jolt of happiness and calm any time I walk through the door.

Barnes & Noble was my go-to first date. (I use past tense because I am now married and therefore no longer go on first dates.) It was like a test: what kind of books do they like? Can they engage in an intelligent discussion about literature? Do they drink coffee? Only those who could successfully engage with me in a bookstore environment were granted the pleasure of seeing me again, romantically.

All this to say, Barne & Noble bookstores had a magnificent impact on my life, and I would hate to see it go bankrupt and no longer exist. Seeing that exact thing happen to Borders, a shop which no doubt has meant just as much to a lot of people, made me fear for my own favorite bookstore. For years Barnes & Noble was my place of refuge, of fun, and of loving relationships with friends and family. Barnes & Noble has essentially been my church home for nearly two decades. And so I have become determined to give it more attention, in the hopes that it will not be sold off and broken up. I love Amazon, I do. How could I not? But it isn't a place, it isn't a home. I need to give affection (and business) to all the companies that mean something to me. So don't forget to continue to pay homage to the places that made your childhood, adolescence, and even adulthood possible and pleasurable. We are a nation of consumers, and we need to be loyal consumers of businesses that have done something significant for us.

So what companies/stores/places hold special memories for you? Share them with the world!

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