Blogetary (Weblog + Commentary = Blogetary)

Yesterday I had the chance to putter around a real used bookstore, the kind with narrow walkways between really high shelves. I haven’t done that in a while. I was in the hardback science fiction section and picked up a couple of books by Peter David to page through them and see what they were like. There was an inscription in one that went something like, “Holiday 2002, M- I don’t know you that well (yet) but I really think you’ll like these so I got you both. W.”  And the second book had a similar inscription, written in red ink. I’ve forgotten the words, but tone felt like someone giving a Christmas gift at the beginning of a relationship. And now, 6 years later, those books were being sold in this book shop.

I’m always a little sad when I find inscriptions in old, used books. I kind of feel like I’ve found a treasure as well. I’ve found the snapshot of a moment between two (to me) strangers who may, or may not, have liked the same types of books. But it’s a little sad to find them, too. I wonder what caused the receiver of the gift to give away or sell a book that had a loving inscription in it. I don’t like doing that. I don’t like to throw away cards or letters, either. Oh, I do sometimes, but I have a hard time doing it. When someone takes the time to have purchased a book and then pen a note in the fly page to me, it feels really special. It doesn’t matter whether or not I like the book or am still friends with that person, it was an exchange of loving energy. I think it’s sad when someone is willing to just let go of that.

But, on the other hand, who knows what happened on the other side of that story. Maybe the giver was a stalker. Maybe the receiver passed away and his/her family needed to get rid of the books.

So many stories out there.