Not only was the time spent with my Mom thoroughly enjoyable, but we both loved books. We could spend hours upon hours just walking up and down the aisles looking at the best sellers, the discount books, the magazine section, etc. My mother always went to the "cooking" section first while I always went to the "dolls and crafts" section.
Now I wonder why that is? Couldn't be because I love "dolls and crafts?" Nah!
Why am I telling you this? Because I was fortunate enough while my Mom was still alive to go bookstore shopping with her many, many times and for that I am so grateful. They were always delightful trips and usually I came home with some new best sellers from some of my favorite "romance" authors.
The last few trips I came home with a few "doll and craft" books to add to my collection. If you believe I just bought a "few" craft books you don't know me very well. My Mom used to look at my shopping cart and say, "Really, Linda!" LOL LOL
Over the years, however, I started to get a little disappointed browsing through the local bookstores for "doll and craft" books. You might wonder "why" that would be as I've just told you that I love shopping at my local bookstores.
Well, I've found that in browsing through my local bookstores several years ago that they just didn't seem to be carrying a lot of "doll and craft" books in their stores anymore. As a result I found when I'm looking for "doll and craft" books that I'd much rather shop online. I discovered Amazon a long time ago and found that I loved being able to search and sort for books to my hearts content. I could easily find the categories I wanted, the authors, best sellers, etc.
At Amazon I can browse by category, look at the new releases, scan the future releases, check out the magazines, etc. I don't have to get down on my knees (which at my age is no longer fun) and crane my neck to look for the "doll and craft" books on the bottom shelf. It's so much more enjoyable to sit in my chair and let my fingers do the walking.
I could spend hours and hours doing this as well. However, the one big drawback was that in sitting at my computer browsing through my online bookstore's is that I was missing two of the ingredients that made my local bookstore shopping experience so enjoyable - my Mom and flipping through all the pages of the books. I often thought about buying another computer and another computer set-up so my Mom could sit right next to me.
However, I know what she would have said to that and it would have been a big resounding "ABSOLUTELY NOT!" She'll give me that look that only Mother's can that makes you feel like your 3 years old even though you're a grandmother yourself. Then she'd say," Linda, it's not the same and a little fresh air never hurt anyone. Besides you need the exercise!" And, more importantly, she loved getting out of the house and loved going to the local bookstores to shop. So, we would.
So, we continued to spend some lazy afternoons at the local bookstores. I'd still check out the "dolls and crafts" section first, but I wasn't going to be disappointed anymore because I knew I'd be coming home and letting my fingers do the walking. I like to think my Mom never knew I was doing online book shopping but I'd be foolish to think so. She always knew. They always do. you just can't beat a mother's natural instinct.
I learned to love books not only from my Mom but my Dad and Grandma as well. They all loved books and instilled a love of books in me. So, none of them would be surprised that I designed a book related collection of graphics for my "We Love Books" custom products gallery. Bookstore shopping and custom products displaying a love of books - what could be better than that!
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