I did it!

Yesterday, I took that break I recommended to all of you in yesterday’s blog talk.  It was awesome - just what I needed.  The weather was perfect for an Indiana February Saturday.  I wandered around Greenwood, Indiana looking for the Verizon Wireless store and finally landed at one of my favorite ‘haunts’ - Borders Booksellers!

The moment I walked through the big glass doors, I knew I was ‘home’.  Not literally, but in a place that felt comfortable, safe and warm!  I could have wrapped the atmosphere about me like a cloak. 

I had come to read one or two of the most recent books I bought, but the wandering Verizon store kept me wandering longer than planned.  So I browsed.  Feeling obligated to buy something in exchange for soaking up atmosphere, I headed for the music section.

“What was the name of the new British tenor I recently heard about,” I mused as I headed for the information center.

Now have you ever had a lapse of memory (could only remember “Russell”) and prayed quietly, “Lord, help me remember!”  As I tried several last names beginning with “W”, first name “Russell”, I prayed that quiet prayer of desperation.

Wha-la!  “WATSON”, that’s his name - Russell Watson.  Gee, I thought, how awesome to come to Borders with my Lord in tow!

While looking for the Watson CD, I ran across another favorite of mine - Michael Crawford (you know, the original phantom of the opera).  So I grabbed the Crawford CD and with a little help from a kindly associate, found more than one Watson CD. 

What a dilemna!  I wanted both of them, but for a brief moment (and I mean brief moment) I had pangs of frugality.  What the heck, I thought.  How often do I make the trip here and how often do I buy new CDs?

I tucked all 3 CDs (1 Crawford and 2 Watson) under my arm and headed for the business books.

“How do you spell Misner, Lord?”  I was again in front of the computer help desk looking for material by the networking guru, Ivan . . . .  I tried “Meisner” to no avail.  It must be “Meissner” - that didn’t work either.  Time for the quietly whispered prayer for memory help.  Suddenly, there it was - “MISNER”.

Thank God (and I mean that literally), the book I wanted was not in store, but could be ordered.  Smug as a bug in a rug, I headed confidently and courageously to the check out desk.  I ordered the Misner book, paid for my new CD’s and headed for the cafe’.

It’s now “Seattle’s Best Coffee” cafe’.  Okay I thought, I’ll give it a try.  To my utter delight, I found men and boys playing checkers and chess at several of the tables, while others had their heads into a laptop, book, magazine or newspaper.

I soaked up the scene, with its sights, sounds and delightful aromas as if I’d never been in such a delightful place in my entire life.  I wanted to stay until closing.  Having located the Verizon store, I paid for my double mocha somewhat-like-a-frappucino drink and sadly exited the big glass doors out into the real world.

What a culture shock! 

Well I found the Verizon store, drove around for 15-20 minutes finding parking space and then waited an hour for assistance only to be told (very kindly I might add) that I’d have to return with friend Harold in order to make an adjustment on the free - but horrible - new Verizon phones.

My day in ‘wonderland’ was at an end!

As I drove home realizing I had ’shot’ most of what might have been a very productive day, I reflected on the value of my experience.

I had indeed been productive!  Glenn, our wonderful webmaster and I had an AWESOME conversation earlier in the day that set my mental juices awhirl.  I was mentally very productive - so nothing lost there.

But what I really feasted on (besides the last fragments of a sinfully rich double mocha somewhat-like-a-frappucino) was how walking into one of my favorite spots on earth was like walking into a dream or vision - a fairy-tale.  I felt like an Alice in Wonderland character as I strode through the glass doors into an environment totally different from the busy parking lot from which I’d come.  Imagine, grown men and young boys actually relaxing at chess and checkers just like their early counterparts did in front of the old general store of a century-ago.

Everything I touched seemed like magic - the mystery of needing help and immediately it was there in my brain.  The rows and rows of books, and CD/DVDs, magazines, cards and gifts was like something out of a child’s fantasy. 

Even the sounds were different.  Soft, subtle, quiet!  People were courteous to each other (except for the young woman who took my book order).  It was very busy, but I felt like I was the only person in the store and that my presence went unnoticed by those who’d come to spend the day just ‘browsing’.

Yesterday was not something I do often.  In fact, I don’t do it often enough.  Big bookstores with cafe’s may not be your thing, but we all have that ’someplace’ that renews our soul and refreshes body and mind.  It’s good to go there - wherever it is - whatever it is!

I made a promise to myself upon my return to the mundane - with more energy and resolve I might add.  I promised that at least every month or two, I’m going to put on my ‘Alice in Wonderland’ cloak and head for the big glass doors of Border’s Bookstore and Cafe’. 

Who knows, some elderly gentleman might help me learn the fine art of chess!

Have an awesome Sunday with much love and considerable rich blessings!

Linda