Kathy and I escaped Phoenix relatively unscathed. We love bookstores and on several occasions we bought extra suitcases to carry trophies home.
Despite escaping relatively unscathed, there was still a close call and it found its way into a poem.
There it sat
I had sensed it
Even heard it call my name
Oh so furtively and seductively.
There it was
I knew it was close by
It sat in the back corner
A harsh piece of asphalt
Yet, so compelling and inviting.
I hurried
Some might even say I scurried
But, I heard a cautionary voice
Some might even say threatening
“You only get one!”
“That is your allowance!”
I entered that sanctuary
That quiet, hallowed place
Ah, a bookstore
Not just some Internet siren
It was a real live bookstore
What a treat!
About ivonprefontaine
In keeping with bell hooks and Noam Chomsky, I consider myself a public and dissident intellectual. Part of my work is to move beyond (transcend) institutional dogmas that bind me to defend freedom, raising my voice to be heard on behalf of those who seek equity and justice in all their forms.
I completed my PhD in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. My dissertation and research was how teachers experience becoming teachers and their role as leaders.
I focus on leading, communicating, and innovating in organizations. This includes mindfuful servant-leadership, World Cafe events, Appreciative Inquiry, and expressing one's self through creativity. I offer retreats, workshops, and presentations that can be tailored to your organzations specific needs.
I published peer reviewed articles about schools as learning organizations, currere as an ethical pursuit, and hope as an essential element of adult eductaion. I published three poems and am currently preparing my poetry to publish as an anthology of poetry.
I present on mindful leadership, servant leadership, schools as learning organizations, how teachers experience becoming teachers, assessement, and critical thinking. I facilitate mindfulness, hospitality retreats. and World Cafe Events using Appreciative Inquiry.
I am writing and researching about various forms of leadership, how teachers inform and form their identity as a particular teacher, schools as learning organizations, hope and its anticipatory relationship with the future, and hope as an essential element in learning.
Teacher as Transformer 
Yes, I love browsing in bookstores too – especially the smaller ones.
Yes, and the second hand ones are in that category.
wonderful! i have a sudden urge to drop by the bookstore
It was interesting to find out how many readers felt similarly in many ways.
I’d love to spend the night in one and just listen. Glad you came by.
It would be like a museum that way. The stories places like that could tell.
libraries and book stores; my favorite places to visit.
They are beautiful and I find the second hand ones give up much richer and unexpected treasures.
A bookstore is a wonderful place to visit. So many treasures!
I love second hand bookstores. They have that many more possibilities. A person just does not know what they will walk out with.
A double thank you Ivon, wonderful post and poem!
And a double welcome back.
Oh, the Kindle-only bookstores will be dust-less and un-fun! I also love stores that specialize in paper, notebooks, and cards. Mmmm!
Yes, I agree about the Kindle-only book stores. I love second hand shops and second hand bookstores. They offer up such great treasures in those nooks and crannies.
Oh yes, I know that voice.. but I always come out with three or four, regretfully leaving half a dozen others behind!!!
Love your poem…
Thank you Valerie. Kathy kept me in check. I had two in hand, but she firmly said no and I put one back regretfully.
As all of the comments before mine, I understand the pull, my sensibilities seek out bookstores as one might an oasis.
Bookstores have redefined the idea of library in many ways.
My whole family could get sucked into bookstores for hours at a time. Luckily no one minded.
That sounds just like us. We love a good bookstore and second-hand stores offer many treasures.
would you believe there is only 1 bookstore left in all of Santa Barbara? A Christian bookstore, too, not even a Barnes and Noble. 😦
That would be very sad at your emoticon indicates. What would you do to solve the problem? Shopping online seems so dust free.
Library. 🙂 I love the library. It has all the good book smells, and crannies and nooks…
Yes. What is sad is that in many schools we are doing away with the library.
Ahhh – a good bookstore is such a wondrous place! I’m glad you found a good one on your trip.
I think they find us. One always appears.
The joy of being in an old bookstore, I could be lost in for hours… and libraries.
Kathy and I too.
Browsing Bookstores (and libraries) used to be my favourite pastime, but now i can’t bend to read the book spines sideways and can’t stand still for long (even though I walk slowly for hours).
I miss those bookstores that have closed down in recent years too. I used to love seeing children sitting on the floor in the children’s sections engrossed in a new story or pictures. Even now, I find a home without books strange to the eye.
I miss the small bookstores where you can browse and know you will find a treasure.