THE BOOKSTORE : THE WRITINGS ON THE WALL

The writings on the wall for bookshops can no longer be denied.  The rising cost of overheads (rentals, utilities, etc.), changes in reading habits and not being able to find a successor will soon force the bookstore out of business. Customer base is either constant or getting smaller and that lesser profits.  As the saying goes, "dreams are dreams, but it cannot pay your bills and put food on the table."

Einstein was right. When you keep on doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results, that is insanity.  We should have made a decision ten years ago, but we kept on, hanging and hoping that things will change for the better the next year 'round.  Yet every year the slice of the pie gets smaller as rental appreciate 10 to 20 percent, while nothing is ever done to improve the place condition. Its hard to give up a place you've learned to love. A "comfort zone" and at our age, I couldn't think of anything better to do. We'll keep on while we can still row, and continue hoping the tides will turn.

On-line book shopping may be the fad right now,  easier, but the browsing experience is not the same.  You don't get the chance to look at books that might interest you the way you can in bookshops.  The sentimental ones still prefer the conventional bookshop. A better location could be an option but it would be like starting all over again. Going on line ia another option but having to teach old dogs new tricks is way beyond our "jurassic" understanding.  

I am old and tired, but still unwilling to give up the fight.  Another round, another year, I am willing to bear.  I have stocked up nearly a thousand selected books for future reading. filled up over a thousand movies in my 1 terrabyte hard drive but I will surely miss the the bookstore life. Stories I hear from customers, the sweet smiles from lovely faces and the feeling of being somebody to be listened to.


None of the kids will follow my footsteps.  Theirs is a world of discovery, filled with numbers.  Its algorithm for them not poetry.  One thing good about technology is that you can keep your thoughts recorded and maybe someday be played back even when you're gone. I've had some good years, good lessons learned, and  maybe a few more years.  No regrets just a bit sad that people of this generation were not as romantic as we were once.