Home: the place where my husband and son are.
Both people bring so much comfort and joy to my life, but I am truly at my happiest in one of two other places; walking along the beach with the warm sun kissing my face, watching seagulls fly overhead, getting lost in my thoughts while at the same time completely clearing my mind. The salt air does wonders for my soul and the sound of the waves calm me.
My third favorite place to be, the place I find the most relaxing is a bookstore.
I miss the independent shops and the knowledgeable sales staff, the ones that actually read and can recommend something you’ve never heard of and fall completely in love with after the first chapter.
Books are magical; the way they feel and smell and line up against one another on shelves. I appreciate their ability to take our hand and transport us to another place and time.
Being in a bookstore is peaceful and I have spent hours walking up and down the aisles searching for inspiration, discovering it, exploring new topics, taking in the faint scent of print and coffee and relishing the quiet.
My love of bookstores, I inherited from my father. Sometimes he’d walk out of a one having spent hundreds of dollars and others, not one cent. The smile on his face was detectable either way.
Image courtesy of Pinterest. Click photo for source information.
This post was written for Write on Edge’s writing meme, RemembeRED. This week’s prompt: write about a (real) place that makes you feel peaceful. Where is your quiet place? What does it look like? What happens there? Word limit is 200. Constructive criticism is welcome.
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Oh I LOVE bookstores too! I can spend hours in one.
They are just the best!
Sometimes we take the kids to the bookstore to hang out. It’s such a great place with so many wonderful choices. My kind of peacefulness.
Lucas is learning to enjoy them too… although trips with him are not quite as peaceful as when I go alone. He heads straight for the kids section and wants to know where the train table is.
Love this. I used to work in a small independent bookstore in downtown Boston. I would often spend my lunch hours exploring other bookstores :-).
I would LOVE to work in a bookstore someday… Sigh.
I love this Tonya. I love the way that you wove the pieces of you and your past into your story today. That’s the essence of memoir, isn’t it?
And oh my, yes- I swoon for bookstores, too.
xo
They are just the best place to get lost.
“Books are magical”…they truly are! I love the picture you’ve painted here, Tonya 🙂
Thank you. This was easy to write. 🙂
One of my quiet places is a book. I found this quaint little bookstore close to where I live, a beautiful place, rich with the smell of old volumes. I can totally relate. 🙂
That sounds wonderful and rare. Enjoy it.
Hmm, bookstores or a beach? I could spend hours at either place.
I know, it was hard to choose. 😉
i miss exploring bookstores. Reading is one of my favorite escapes.
I don’t read as much as I’d like to anymore now that I have a child, but I browse through a bookstore at least once a week just to find my center.
I love bookstores. I could & have walked around for hours. Like you, sometimes I have a purpose. Others, I just want to be around words.
Also? old, large libraries are great too. It feels like walking into a church.
Oh, I love that… “I just want to be around words” That’s it, exactly.
And yes, libraries have the same effect.
Yes! I also love bookstores. Love finding those towns that still have them.
I can’t help but wonder if there will still be book stores when my smaller children are grown or if they will be like the elusive retro record store.
That thought scares me. I, for one will never own a Kindle or Nook and I hope I’m not the only one.
The Borders in my town just closed. There is no bookstore anywhere close by, and it makes me incredibly sad.
That is very sad. Poor Borders. There’s two Barnes & Nobles by us and I frequent them both.
I could totally relate if not with bookstores, with being surrounded by good reads 🙂
Yes! Good words, wonderful thoughts, great thinkers, and our imagination.
I have gotten to where I restrict myself away from book stores. I cannot *not* spend money! Or, I go to the library. Whew. It’s financially cheaper there, and no less of an experience.
I know, my book collection is a joke!! Too many books, not enough time or $.
I try going to the library but then my overdue fees are kind of a joke too.
It’s been so long since I could really enjoy a bookstore without having to sit at the train table and console my kid after someone else snatched a train from him. Dumb Dad and I, dorks that we are, used to go on dates to the bookstore. It was so nice.
Oh, those damn train tables. When I take Lucas, I get stuck at those too. It’s torture!!
When I was in college I would spend hours upon hours in bookstores. It was definitely relaxing and peaceful. Great post.
Thanks! So glad I’m not the only nerd. 🙂
Oh, I adore bookstores…and I do miss the small ones around here.
Weren’t they just the best?! Sigh….
It used to be a pipe dream of mine to own an independent bookstore, complete with rolling wooden ladders and mismatched coffee mugs to go with a pot sitting out for customers to enjoy.
You’ve captured the idea of my dream 🙂 And I absolutely agree with you.
It’s always been a dream of mine to work in one. Owning one would be amazing. Great dream.
I feel the exact same way. I’m not allowed in bookstores with a debit card. It’s a personal rule.
That is a great rule!
Oh, I so understand this. There is not a location I’d rather visit if I have free time. A bookstore to me is not simply about books, but possibilities. In fact, last week, on my Giving Gratitude Link Party I talked about my gratitude for books!
Meredith From A Mother Seeking Come find me on my blog, A Mother Seeking…
Yes! The possibilities are endless. I am so thankful for books and quiet spots that make me feel peaceful.
My tied for first escape is in the pages of a good book. I love the intimacy you write about as you explore a good bookstore.
I too love bookstore because of daddy. In fact, one of my favorite dates so far was spent just wandering a book store with a guy. 🙂 So cute! I also remember mom taking her long lists of books to buy for book club and stuff during the summers. Fun times indeed helping her look for them all. There really is nothing like the smell of books.
I could spend hours at a bookstore. I love it. I love books and being able to get lost in them. I refuse to own a Kindle or a Nook just because it takes away from books. I’m probably the only one who thinks that!
Love the beach and the way it clears my head, but the books take the cake each time! I hope my sons inherit my love of books and reading!
Me too!!!! My parents both gave me a true love of books and reading. I know my dad (if he had lived) would have adored places like Barnes and Noble ….we didn’t agree on many things but I know about inheriting a love of those hardbound beauties. I loved this post!!! Xo
I feel the exact. same. way. There’s nothing better than a book store. Nothing.
Oh, me too. I love bookstores. Which is funny, because I don’t actually buy a lot of books. But I love the vibe.