Helping to free young minds?

Yo, girls,

how you doing?

-:)

 

One of the things,

I miss most about,

the bookstore,

is meeting,

random people,

striking up,

conversations,

about,

books,

movies,

politics,

the state of the world.

Learning new things,

sharing,

bantering,

even.

One of the things,

I miss least,

is meeting and having to,

put up with,

aggressive,

and,

crack pot y,

opinionated people.

They are customers,

or potential customers,

so you need to stay polite.

My social interaction,

since,

the closing in May,

has changed,

a lot.

I have a part time,

job,

and,

come in contact,

with many co-workers,

some of which,

are quite pleasant,

some of which,

are a little bit,

loco.

-:P

When I had the bookstore,

my friends,

knew where to find me,

at all times,

I was there,

they could drop by,

chew the fat,

they could call.

Now,

while I am much more,

mobile,

with my ‘brilliant’ phone,

and,

all,

we have to make,

dates,

which is great,

but,

it does cut down,

on meeting,

random people,

but,

the bonus,

is less of those,

in your face,

aggressive types.

So Sundays and Mondays,

tend to be social days,

for me,

go out for coffee,

eat dinner with the ex,

or the anarchist,

or just spend quality time,

with mom.

But,

I realized,

just yesterday,

when I was having lunch,

with my,

young friend,

Renaud,

who I met through the bookstore and has been a source of fresh air and joy in my life, a smart generous young man with impeccable style, and heart, lots of heart.

I miss helping,

to mold,

and,

free,

young minds.

Bookstores,

especially old and dusty,

used ones,

are quiet,

havens,

for young people,

thirsty for knowledge.

We’ve all been,

there,

I think,

itching to know,

stuff,

searching for guidance,

to what to read,

and,

more even,

searching for someone,

who won’t judge,

us,

for reading Sade,

or Harlequins,

or having piercings.

Over the years,

I met many young people,

and,

sometimes,

not so young ones,

looking for help,

with a reading ‘program’

but,

when I look back,

what I feel the most,

satisfaction from,

what makes me warm,

and,

fuzzy,

are my ‘boys’.

My ‘boys’,

were a small,

group of individuals,

young men,

who came to the bookstore,

looking for a place,

to be quiet,

and find books,

that would guide,

them.

They were,

all,

shy,

special,

and,

a little marginal,

they needed,

a strong female,

example,

in their lives,

I’m pretty sure they didn’t know this-:)

They all had mothers,

who loved them,

but,

they needed,

an ear,

a person with good judgement,

who wouldn’t judge,

them.

Over the years,

I saw them change,

become,

more confident,

more articulate,

find their way,

deal with their wounds,

become,

men,

who I am proud to know,

and,

feel I may have contributed,

or have a small part in,

helping to bridge the gap,

from boys to men.

I miss that most,

helping to free, mold, awaken,

minds,

hope that doesn’t sound to,

pretentious and presumptuous,

I guess,

I need to look to new avenues,

of mentoring.

Hmm,

food for thought

Later girls,

BB