Dear Blog,
I’m sorry, dear neglected Blog; I’ve abandoned you.
In the cold slow winter months on the Island, exiled to our tiny box store, I used you. You occupied my time. You fulfilled some of my need for book talk. You were such a good listener.
Then, with the frenzy of stocking the big store, the labor of the move, the chaos of the opening, I left you for my To Do list.
I did think of you, Blog. On opening day, my flip and my camera were in my pocket, but grand plans for recording the day quickly fled before a line 5 deep at the register.
The days running up to the opening, I was already planning the post about it. I was so certain how I’d feel that day: the swelling emotions, the teary eyes, the humble gratitude. There were no words that covered the depth of my as-of-yet-non-existent responses. My post about “no words to express my feelings” was already at least a page long. It was beautiful. You would have loved it and cried over the reading.
It turns out, that’s not how it was. There is a word for opening day.
Joy
This has been such a long haul. This last month, when the shelves were in and we were stocking the store, I kept telling people how much they would love it. As we got closer to June 13, I started to get nervous– what if I was wrong? So every time someone told me it was perfect…
Joy
Every time someone found a book they thought they would not find…
Joy
Every time someone told me a story of their memories of the old BoG, then said this new incarnation fulfilled every memory, but added new possibility…
Joy
I had spent the 3 days prior to opening agonizing over the arrangement of books in the kid section. No matter how I put the books, I wasn’t satisfied. It never looked right. Eventually I gave up. It was as good as it could get.
Opening morning: within 45 minutes, the kids had torn it all up. They were chasing each other with puppets, pulling books off shelves and generally acting the tornado.
I looked at the chaos and sighed. It was finally right. My kid section had been missing kids.
Joy
Things are headed back to normal. The chaos dial is not quite at 11 any more. But I can still feel that heady carbonated buzz bubbling just beneath the surface.
Joy
So, dear Blog, I am taking some pictures today, maybe some video, knowing I can’t capture the wonder of this space. I’ll share it. I hope to visit you more regularly. And above all, I wish you
Joy.
Kisses,
Katherine
This post nearly brought tears to my eyes, especially the part about the kid’s section missing kids.
I can not wait to see the store!!!
Just a week and a half before you get to see it… we are very excited for you and Ann to come.
What a delight to read. Thank you for posting this. I wish you every success in the new space.
Congratulations Katherine! We’ve missed Bunch of Grapes. Our family (kids included!) will be sure to visit when we vacation on MV in August.
That’s now twice that your blog has brought me to tears. And it’s not just because I’m a sap. Can’t wait to see the store. No, let me rephrase: can’t wait to experience the store. Hugs to you all, even the crusty and curmudgeonly non-huggers.
It was my daughter, Rose’s 17th birthday on Monday, and all she wanted was for me to take her to the new store. It’s beautiful, warm, inviting and pulsing with an intimate and mysterious kind of energy that makes one feel as if they have come home. Thank you for creating and sustaining this haven for us all.
Ingrid