Moving Down the Creek

Yes, Otter Creek Used Books is moving. Not far. A short walk into the MarbleWorks area. Questions of logistics still need to be answered but have no fear, I’ll come up with something. Wonderful customers have offered suggestions which are very appreciative. Even offering up some muscles to help with the move. And that is very appreciated!

There are many pluses on the decision to move. Only one negative: moving off of Main Street. The reasons to make the move are: no stairs to climb, easier and more parking, windows, the camaraderie between businesses already there.

Why am I moving? For all those reasons. Okay, mainly for the windows. I enjoy the location I am currently in. The owner of the building has been wonderful to work with. Very pro-business which I appreciate. But after five years here I’m starting to feel like I’m in a basement. I could ignore it before but can’t anymore. I’m needing to come up to the earth and be a part of it. Did I mention the windows where I’m relocating to?

Windows!

More on this later. I’ll keep you posted on the transition with a progress report. Including photos.

The Power of a Book

I’d like to share a story that happened a short time ago. It is a lovely story that will, hopefully, make everyone feel good and appreciative of life, and rediscover the power of love.

A gentleman came in searching for a couple of particular books which unfortunately weren’t found in the store. While looking though, he came across a book in the Religion section with a title that looked interesting. He pulled out the book and opened it to discover inserted within the pages a Dove dark chocolate candy wrapper. He recognized the book as one that could have been hers but placed it back on the shelf and came out front to tell me his story. Her story. His wife passed last month. He remembered she had brought books in for trade awhile back. Whenever he found her reading a book he would present her with a piece of Dove dark chocolate. She would flatten the wrapper and then use it as a bookmark. He felt the book he had just discovered could have been hers and how special it was he had discovered it. I told him the book was meant for him and it was his to take as she obviously directed him to it. After a few minutes he thought that maybe if he read it it might help him understand her life – their life together – better.

I generally go through the books as they arrive removing any sort of unrelated papers or what have you found within the pages before they go up on the shelves so I was surprised the wrapper got by me.

Unfortunately I never asked the title of the book but the saying on the wrapper stated, “Trust your instincts.”

 

A Walk Around the Block

In the morning I try to take a walk around the block after I do my banking. I’m always scouting out those little things that make the walk interesting. Of course these days, all the rain has made the Middlebury Falls very interesting. I thought I would share some of the things that I’ve found along this walk.

I do my banking at the National Bank of Middlebury so I head south on Main Street, walk down Frog Hollow Alley to take the footbridge over the Otter Creek that leads to the MarbleWorks area. And to my back door at the bottom of Printer’s Alley. Middlebury is a great town to poke around and see what one can discover.

 

Main Street Flowerboxes

Awesome Trinkets at Bejeweled

Look what I found at the end of the Alley - Burritos!

Signage for Middlebury's Monthly Art Walk 🙂

 

Number 3

 

The Question Is?

 

Footbridge Over Otter Creek

View From Footbridge of Falls

Passion = Used Books

Life as a used bookstore owner. What is it like? Well, isn’t it just about everyone’s dream to own a used bookstore? It’s everything you think it would be and then some. Hard work as well as enjoyable. Heavy boxes to cart around. Cleaning books before they hit the shelves. Sorting into categories. Pricing. Shelving or storing until there is an opening on the shelf. Sometimes moving shelves around to accommodate the books. Tending to customers. Seeing what is needed.

I really enjoy the older books – their covers, pages. I shop in the non-fiction sections whenever I go into a used bookstore. Just to see what would jump out at me. It was always a surprise but always what I needed. Well, you know, didn’t really need but had to have.

Purchasing this store I wanted to create a space that I would want to shop in. So this store is really a reflection of me. I know some stores sell merchandise that they know would sell but not so much represented who they were as a person. I don’t think I would enjoy that. Probably make money but not happy money.

So I’m plugging along enjoying the space I am in. Enjoying all the books around me. In boxes, on shelves, in piles awaiting my attention.

And thinking of ways to re-purposing pieces – letting my imagination go. Fun. And creative.