By: Sarah Kaylan Stricker
Originally, the subhead for this blog was “an account of self-diagnosis,” but this blog was written in 2015. Now, it’s 2018 and this blog is a peek into the past. And the two of us, who you’ll meet below if you haven’t already, have graduated from college, moved to different towns and are co-founders of this digital publication we call The Queue. This is where we began.
I have a problem — a disorder if you will.
During a recent visit to LETTERS bookshop, something strange revealed itself in my reaction to the shop and I witnessed something totally different in the reaction of my lovely friend, Annie.
I entered the shop and slowly eased into a transitive state, which hindered my ability to think clearly. Looking around, I saw local novels, interesting graphic illustrations and powerful titles.
Annie saw the same.
The shop caught our eye walking by and we roamed around the shop until we wore tracks into the floor. That’s when I realized what my problem was.
I had the bookstore blues.
Bookstore Blues (n): A shopaholic disorder that impairs shoppers’ ability to make responsible and logical decisions. Symptoms include impaired judgment and incapacitation of decisiveness.
I admitted to Annie that when I have children, they won’t own any books. I proceeded to talk through the hypothetical conversation that would ensue.
“Don’t you dare read that book while eating a PB&J,” I will say.
“But why, Mommy?” my future scruffy-headed child will reply.
“Sweetheart, When You Give A Mouse A Cookie is Mommy’s book and we don’t dirty Mommy’s things.”
I saw the store as a dilemma; as a decision with far too many options. So many options, that I was unable to pick one to spend my money on. Annie had the opposite reaction. She had the bookstore bubblies.
Bookstore Bubblies (n): A shopaholic disorder that impairs shoppers’ ability to make responsible and logical decisions. Symptoms include: excessive spending, giggling and, in a few rare cases, accent inconsistencies.
For Annie, the store was an opportunity, an opportunity to spend $65! She bought five books! Let me reiterate, she bought five whole books (including one about Sparky the Sloth), and I left the store with nothing to show for it.
Is LETTERS bookshop in Durham, N.C. wonderful? Yes. Was the service kind and helpful? Yes. Was it a cute little local store? Yes.
We both saw all of these things, but our reactions were different.
At least Annie never saw the effects of the bookstore blues.
The Queue 