Monday, January 12, 2015

Treasure in the Old Bookshop, Revisited

The shop was long and narrow, dimly lit by naked bulbs dangling from the ceiling. It was a shadowed, solemn, wondrous place, tucked away in a dusty corner of the city where shops didn't sparkle like the department stores over on Main. Mysterious and musty it was, filled with rows and racks and piles of volumes. Used hardbacks, yellowing paperbacks, comics... all stacked haphazardly and ready for a rummager's quest.

I'd step out of the light of day and onto the squeaky wood floor in search of buried treasure.
It was my own personal library, but the best part was: I could read the books and then I could keep them!  No stamps inside warning that this was a "14 day book," no falling in love with a whole fictional family only to have to dump them on a library counter at the end of the month.

I was allowed to buy all of the books I could carry, pretty much.. and this because of the kind man who took me to the bookstore. My father, who (okay, I'll admit it) spoiled me.  Rather than leaving me home on a Saturday so he could go rummage for his own treasures at "our bookshop," he patiently took his bubbly little buddy and shelled out who-knows-how-much for mystery stories I would stay up much too late reading.  I think back now and imagine the one sided "conversations" he had to endure on the drives home, as I cradled newfound treasures in my arms (no putting them in a bag for me, no sir) and rattled on about this being the EXACT Nancy Drew I've been wanting and oh LOOK at the green cover on this book it's JUST like leather and omigosh I once got this one from the library and then couldn't find it ever again and oh Daddy isn't this just the best BEST day?


Today I live surrounded with shadows of our bookshop.  Shadows of a good kind, as I savor the comfort of books lining walls of my home.  Shadows of a better kind, as I thank God for a father who was generous with
his attention and his time.  These shadows of the better kind are ones I hope I've passed along to my own children, and now to my grandchildren as we share games and books and make-believe. I pray to be generous with my attention and my time, helping them make memory-shadows of their own.

And I live with shadows of the best kind, because the generosity and attention of my earthly father was, itself, a dim shadow of the attention of my Heavenly Father.  


I can only imagine how HE looks upon me when I accept with joy His outpouring of gifts.  Think of how it must please Him when we bubble over with thanks and praise.

There are treasures all around, if I just look for them.  It is again time for some counting, and some thanking. And who knows?  I might even bubble just a bit....
 


(this is a slightly edited version of a post from our archives) 

Photo on this post © 2015 N Shuman

 

7 comments:

  1. Ah... beautiful, Nancy. I can imagine myself in that bookshop, and hear my own voice extolling the virtues of the treasures found that day. My poor, patient father!
    What lovely memories you're creating for your grandkids. Lovely!

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    1. Thank you, Tess! I have a feeling you would have loved "our bookshop." :)

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  2. What a lovely story and special memory for you.

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    1. Oh, it is a special memory indeed. Thanks, Deborah.

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  3. You are truly blessed to have such a wonderful father! I love this memory of yours and the way it leads to our heavenly Father. And what a treasure you are for recounting this. I share your love of old book shops. I find the line "It was a shadowed, solemn, wondrous place, tucked away in a dusty corner of the city where shops didn't sparkle like the department stores over on Main." What great writing!!! I am transported by your illuminating details. Thank you for the treasure of your gift to all of us. Your kids and grand kids are so gifted by you...

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    1. My father (who passed away 20 years ago) was such a kind, generous, humble person.

      I am not surprised that you share my love of old book shops :) ! I'd personally rather go to that sort than to any bright, gleaming, huge seller of new books anywhere. If you've ever happened to see the movie '84 Charing Cross Rd' (Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins, 1980s I think), you've seen the closest thing to 'our bookshop' that I've ever come across. I watch it (over and over I've watched it!) and it's like a trip back in time....

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    2. Oh, I love '84 Charing Cross Rd" !!! And the bookshop I adore. So thankful you were able to be young and enjoying books in such a place of mystery and character and welcome. I can see you have your father's kind, generous and humble qualities as well. God Bless him in heaven all the more! And God Bless you!!

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