My Real Life

A few days ago, I got a text from Erin.

We used to devour those Dark Forces books.

I haven’t thought about them in years, but as soon as I saw the picture, I was transported in time to my childhood bedroom, sitting in front of my bookcase, pulling one out after the other and just laying on the floor and reading all day.

Between Dark Forces and Sweet Valley High, I don’t know how I had time for much else.

Anyway, I’ve got a bit of a “thing” for old books, to begin with, and seeing this text gave me an itch.

I needed to have some of those books.

However, the only used book store in our town caters to an adult audience, and by that, I mean grown ups, just in case you weren’t sure.

Anyway…

When I was a kid, there was a used book store in Chester, a neighboring town, which is where I got many of my books by trading in the old ones.

My grandparents would give me books, I’d read them and instantly trade them in for more Sweet Valley Highs or Dark Forces or Nancy Drews.

My Dad and I would spend hours in that store, but eventually, it went out of business.

It’s always been my dream to open a used book store.

A place where people could come and trade in their old books, get someone else’s treasured books, sit, read, enjoy.

It’s not happening today, but hopefully, someday.

I went to Facebook and asked local friends if they knew of any good used book stores and a few people chimed in.

I looked up the places they were offering on Yelp and one of them looked really interesting, but a bit too ecletic.

It was a used book store, but billed itself also as a comic book store.

I wasn’t sure I’d find what I needed.

However, many of the other places were a further drive, so I decided to give it a shot.

We had no school on Monday, and I wasn’t feeling well at all.

However, I had to go pick up the kids instruments from the store where they were getting their fall “tune-up” so I figured I’d just drive a little further and check the place out.

Monkey Girl agreed to come with me, and we were off.

The minute I walked in the door, I was hooked.

Wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling.

Books.

Monkey Girl inhaled and said “I love that smell. It smells like old books.”

Exactly.

I took two steps in the door and knew I’d be making at least one purchase.

I’ve got a thing for Archie comics, and believe me when I tell you it was an exercise in control not to just sweep the shelf and buy them all.

I made a few selections, and then continued on.

Paydirt.

Sweet Valley High originals.

Oh, Sweet Valley High.

So many times when I’ve found myself being too straightlaced, I’ve said “What would Jessica Wakefield do?”

And when I’ve felt that maybe I was being a little too carefree and needed to exercise a bit of caution, I’d ask myself “What would Elizabeth Wakefield do?”

Not really, but oh, how I loved those books.

So, I made a few more selections.

We spent approximately 45 minutes in the store.

If I had felt better, I would have spent the entire day.

Packed a bag lunch and made an adventure of it.

In the end, here’s my haul:

4 Archie comics

4 Sweet Valley High Books (2 series regulars and 2 Special Editions because they are awesome)

2 Nora Roberts paperbacks, because I picked up the third in the series at a library used book sale, but haven’t read it yet, because I was looking for the first two

A Dark Force book (YEAH!!! They had one!)

An antique, original Bobbsey Twins book.  This one is pure sentiment, because my Dad used to have a set of those books, and I would read them, every summer, when I would stay with my grandparents in Ohio for a month. I always wanted those books, and think my grandfather may have thrown them out when in the midst of his Alzheimer’s. I saw it on the shelf and got a little teary. It needed to come home with me.

And…I had to get the My Little Pony Rainbow Dash Pez dispenser, because Rainbow Dash is Tiny’s favorite and we can never find any toys that aren’t all sold out of Rainbow Dash.

A Pez dispenser was the perfect fit, because that kid loves Pez like Olivia Pope loves her wine.

As we left, the store owner said “Tell your friends about us!” and I promised I would, and so here I am…telling all of you.

So…if you are in Northern New Jersey, hop over to Ray and Judy’s Book Stop at 40 West Main Street in Rockaway, NJ.

It’s worth the trip.

The only person who really recommended a scary movie with on my last post about my quest for a scary movie said that I should try “Insidious.”

So, Real Man and I gave it a try.

It was a good premise, as far as scary movies go. One that felt fairly fresh because it was a twist on an old plot.

We were off to a good start.

There were moments where I gasped or grabbed Real Man’s arm, and I felt like there was some real nightmare potential there.

But, then the movie took a road, midway through, and even though you know the people who wrote the movie expected this middle part to be really scary…it just wasn’t.

And then, when it got back to the scariness, you had been out of it for so long, you weren’t scared any longer.

So, it was a good movie, and I enjoyed it, but when it was over, I went about my business and didn’t think about it again.

So, not as scary as I was hoping.

Then, I was feeling disappointed that I hadn’t been scared enough, so the next day, Real Man and I decided to go see “The Gift.”

The commercials made it look pretty scary, and like a psychological thriller, and those are often the scariest, because people’s minds are twisted and that kind of thing can actually happen, so I was hopeful.

It was a good movie.

It was.

But it wasn’t even a little scary.

So, I’m 0 for 2 this scary movie season.

I’m holding out hope that things get…scarier.

Today, this is a room of desks and chairs.

Today, the air in this room is stale.

Today, this room is empty and clean.

Today, this room is a void.

But, tomorrow?

Tomorrow this room becomes full of life.

Tomorrow, children will enter, as nervous and excited as I.

Tomorrow, the air in this room shimmers with possibility and opportunity.

Tomorrow, this room becomes messy; good and messy with trial and error, investigation, curiosity and learning.

Tomorrow, this room is where drama will play out, secrets will be shared, laughter will ring, frustration will build, lessons will be learned, memories will be made.

Tomorrow, new relationships begin to be built, and even though I know they will leave me in 10 months…10 too short months…I love them all, a little, already.

Tomorrow is my favorite day of the school year, because, tomorrow…

We begin our journey.

Together.

I made it.

21 days straight of posting.

Shouldn’t have been a challenge, since, at the beginning of this blog, six years ago, I used to post every day, but I had definitely fallen out of the habit, and I wanted to get my mojo back.

There was only one day when I struggled with inspiration, but it was more about what else I had going on, as opposed to not wanting to write.

So, I’m back.

Not every day, because I don’t want to bore you, and I want my posts to be meaningful and not just something to cross off a to-do list, but I’m back.

I hope you’ve enjoyed at least one thing I’ve written in the past 21 days, and that you continue to come back and follow my strange little life.

And, if it’s been awhile and you happen to notice I haven’t posted in awhile, please reach out and let me know.

Because, as much as I write for me, I also write for you.

I know you’re there, even when you don’t comment, and I appreciate your support more than you can imagine.

I think they were right, though, about it taking 21 days to form a new habit, because I can’t imagine not writing a post tonight for tomorrow.

So, I’ll see you soon.

And thanks.