The theme of today’s essay is Requests. We state that politely and formally because, in our deep embarrassment, we sold an important civil rights book the other day, but NOT to the customer who had specifically requested that sort of title, and who was heart-broken to come in only to spot the requested book on the hold shelf for SOMEONE ELSE. We felt bad. He felt ignored. It was an awkward moment for all. Fortunately, he’s a super guy and was gracious–despite the possible frustration brewing within his lovely self–and the brief lightening strike of Protestant Guilt that surged through our system was wiped away by a greater, more civilizing force: forgiveness, plain, careful, relieving forgiveness, and our promise to try to Never Do That Again.
It was a teachable moment, something we hate with a frenzy. LOVE OUR BROKEN SELVES! we cried. We promptly closed the shop and ran to the nearest convenient store to smoke a pack of ciggies outside like we used to, as children. It made us feel better, and as we smoked, talked, and slacked through the strangely mild afternoon weather, we wondered, genuinely, how our robust computer request system has let us down. We talked about perhaps building a new and better request system, some new database program that collects DATA and things like DATA, maybe spitting out a FACT now and again. People have TOLD us titles that they are looking for, but like algorithm bedding technocrats, we let the SNAKE OIL collating of databases remind our brains that so-and-so is looking for such-and-such.
We could go on and bore you with the dirty details of our ball dropping but just take this brief as an apology and new commitment to tracking requests. We love requests. Honestly, there is something deeply satisfying about having a pile of cool books to process and grabbing that little collection of names and needs and saying, “Doug was looking for this book on falconry!”
Because Doug was looking for it! Doug bought a whole table and chair set resembling King Arthur’s Round Table for his dining room. He invites his friends over in full costume to eat at that immense table, and when he gets the much-longed-for falconry book, it’s off to the fields with him and Guinevere–or whatever he names his falcon–to trip the light fantastic.
So, send us your requests. We have invested in a whole spanking new request system: a recipe box with recipe cards in it! It’s tangible. We can see it. WE CAN DRAW A FACE ON IT! Within, it can hold all of your wants and needs–book related and otherwise–that WE PROMISE TO KEEP both on our minds and secret. No one needs to know that you’re looking for a book on cheeky postcards, or Adam Smith, or an out of print mystery novel of questionable quality. Your secrets are safe with us. Or maybe you don’t care? That’s not the point. The point is if you’re looking for something–a title, a subject, an author–common or uncommon, we’ve got your back. Just send us a note telling us what you want and we will keep an eye out. You’ll even get your own little card in our recipe card box.
Until then, enjoy the books we DO have right now and perhaps in the attached list you find one of your much hunted-for treasures.
Much love,
Jason and Vanessa
