Beyond Glass
That round darkened spot might be me. I'm shooting through some glass 'darkly' at a closed bookstore here. If I'm near a bookstore I have to venture in. Not always to buy, but I'm a pretty 'good looker'. Elenka just rolls her eyes; I'm sure. She's already told me I have to start clearing books out of our den. If I lived alone, I'd probably be a hoarder. Sometimes I can't stop. Good thing I married. The den is the next room we'll tackle; she claims. Of course she's been saying this about the den for about 5 years now. I know why. It's a daunting task with all the books and all. The rug has got to go and the walls need some paint. It'll happen in the upcoming future. We've just completed rearranging and painting our upstairs' rooms, and in the process throwing out junk.
Funny thing about junk.
At one time, junk seemed so valuable.
Time tends to alter, at one time, invaluable sentimental items.
How does sentimental become garage sale fodder so fast?
Time just ain't hours, minutes and days.
There's something else at play here.
I am a hater of junk but I still tend to collect it. When I moved back to Texas almost five years ago to care for my mother I literally moved on an airplane with two suitcases. I did ship my computer and then made a driving trip back at one point for some odds and ends I felt I couldn't do without. Now I'm faced with all new junk and I'm pretty sure my move back to Arizona in the impending future will not be as bare as the previous one! Books are wonderful but they collect dust and take up space and are heavy. I am a library freak. I let them rearrange the shelves and keep the books clean.
ReplyDeletei've always been a 'collector'...not a hoarder. ha!
ReplyDeleteBUT i have to say...as the years go by, i've gotten better at NOT collecting...so much.
books. i love books. i could get lost for hours in that store.
at first glance at your photo...i thought it was a ghostly presence...
:) have a nice weekend!
Ah, you'd enjoy a huge used book sale I know is going on today not far from where I live. I understand used book stores come and buy up boxes full of goodies to share with their customers.
ReplyDeleteBooks are treasures yet difficult to store. Since I retired I am a constant and avid use of our neighborhood library. We are not redoing but are downsizing, beginning from the bottom up. The furnace room and laundry room has been repainted and look terrific, but in order to finish the rec room I need to find space for all my books. With heavy heart I have given away many, but am fussy about the receivers. Because of many, many resource books for my Holocaust unit, I am donating them to the Jewish Community Center library. My black history books, fiction, memoirs, Harlem Renaissance books are all going to diversity folks in various public schools. If they are not going to be used, I won't donate them. I am still possessive about my books. Care for any, Birdman (and don't listen to Elenka!!)
ReplyDeletei don't like clutter. good luck with the den!
ReplyDeleteI can relate very well to that "cleaning out" chore since I just did it last fall. I do feel better about simplifying things but, I have to catch myself almost buying something else that I don't need. I love that photo. At first I thought there was a fire in that room and you had capture the smoke rolling in.
ReplyDeleteOne man's collector is another man's hoarder. Though I'd argue that books fall squarely under collection.
ReplyDeleteIf one is piling up newspapers and Life magazines, it is definitely the latter.
In the words of that old hymn: "Time makes ancient good uncouth."
ReplyDeleteIt looks like your halo in the window.
ReplyDeleteAt one time junk seemed my wealth. I get it. Hey! My little Hawaii novel is a Kindle E-edition too - that's the link on my blog. Hint Hint LOL! No clutter - except in your imagination......
ReplyDeletefond ALOHA from Honolulu,
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
I find it difficult to purge things - everything feels like a treasure!
ReplyDeleteI can't resist bookstores either. There are very few independent bookstores in these parts left so I feel obligated to buy at least something when I go in one. I like having books around but I love reading from my Kindle especially since I can now download library books to it. For real books, unless it is something that I really want to keep I throw into the bag of clothes I keep for goodwill. Heather and I have given away hundreds of books and still have way too many.
ReplyDeleteHow much you are right here... how much you are right!
ReplyDeleteNice image. A major dumpster filling is in my summer future, too. It won't be fun, but it has to be done.
ReplyDeleteI can't pass one up either.
ReplyDeleteI have books I want to keep forever. Not rooms full of books, but lots on my shelves in my studio apartment. My brother told me in 1978 when we moved from Kansas City, Missouri, to Clinton, Mississippi, "You and LeRoy are suckers for every book salesman who comes to your door!" I replied with emphasis, "Howard, we go to the store and buy them!"
ReplyDeleteI like that image a lot Birdman.. I know what you mean about the clearing out, we're half way through the house also.. not sure why as we get older it's almost natural to de-clutter :)
ReplyDeleteI like that image a lot Birdman.. I know what you mean about the clearing out, we're half way through the house also.. not sure why as we get older it's almost natural to de-clutter :)
ReplyDeleteThe phenomenon of junk...What bookstore is this?? Books are the hardest to let go...and they can't be called junk, oh no!!
ReplyDeleteAhhh bookshops. Bliss.
ReplyDelete