It's Gone

So its finally gone. Waldenbooks of Marion, which would have celebrated its 40th anniversary in a couple years, is now one of many empty and depressing looking stores at the Marion Centre. Everyone who came in during the last days would have sworn that of all the stores in that dying mall, Waldenbooks would have outlasted them all. And yet, you see the pictures up above. As I write this, I'm watching You've Got Mail and it is so profoundly poignant to me right now, that I feel the person who wrote it had to have gone through losing a store of their own.

I have to tell you, the time at the store has been fairly wonderful. Besides the times at the seasonal Calendar Kiosk, which sucked my very soul away, I had a good time. I learned a lot about books, of all genres, which I really appreciate. I feel like I've grown in the world of literature. I've found my niches, the things I love, the things I can tolerate, and that which I have have absolutely no time for. I can talk to a wider range of people about books since I am liberated from my tiny 'preferences' box.

Although I didn't get to be terribly creative there, since it is corporate, I did get several of my ideas used, I got to put up displays, I learned how to speak with strangers better. I had a good time. The hours sucked, the pay was low and I put much of my paycheck right back into the cash register, but I would chalk that job up in the 'good' category.

So farewell, Waldenbooks. May someone come into Marion and bring the light of books back to its dreary streets.