The New (Temporary) Normal

From Carrie:

Things aren’t changing week-to-week, or even day-to-day. Alex and I seem to be making tweaks and adjustments on a permanent basis now. It is a strange universe right now, and to be honest, we are pretty tired.

While the doors are closed to the public, we are in the shop receiving and sending shipments and making deliveries. At the moment I type this, you can reach us by phone between 11 am and 5 pm Monday through Saturday. You can email anytime, but those are the primary hours we will be responsive.

We love our shop. We love all of you. And we will continue to do our best to get books into the right hands (even if you put them in quarantine in the middle there – my house can’t be the only house with a slotted mail quarantine box). This experience really shows us how much we miss handselling, having you in the shop to talk about books and life (and everything). But, like you, we are figuring out how to make it work. We are emailing, Facebooking, Instagramming, talking on the phone – so many long distance versions of what we do. It takes time, it takes patience, and it is a strange juggling act, and it is still wonderful.

Our shop has been rearranged, with stacks of books in various stages in display cubbies labeled things like “options pending email” and “incomplete” (thank you for your laughter and patience on the phone as we try to navigate our labels). Two tables have been stripped bare, one for our amazing mail dude (Seriously, Lowell is our hero), and one for Alex and Carrie to divide and deliver (you should see us at the end of the day trying to figure out routes). Still, amidst all the chaos, the shop feels like home. We are surrounded by books and beauty.

We miss the daily moment, when someone new walks in and has that little gasp of awe. We miss you taking a picture from the top of the stairs. I bet you all could fill a gallery. We miss you telling us the store smells good (we can’t smell it). And we miss standing there at the computer trying desperately to remember your last name to enter you into the computer, because we actually do know you, but last names are hard!

In the meantime, waving from the car as we drive away and you grin at the bag on your stoop feels good. Getting an email when your package arrives is exciting. We are caught up in it all. The knowledge that these books are providing distractions, learning experiences, or helping you process things feels pretty dang good. We feel heart warmed as we package your gifts to friends and loved ones, knowing your surprise will bring them love. You are letting us witness such kindness.

To be honest, we are working longer hours and harder than ever, and it might be a bit of exhaustion speaking, but we are pretty teary on a daily basis. Okay, so if you know us . . . that isn’t out of the ordinary. Seriously though, there are a lot of huge and beautiful moments happening in the Skylark community right now. So although I linger a bit longer at home to see my family settle into their day together before I head into the shop, I still get giddy when I unlock the door. Though I am tired and sore and hungry by the time I finally pull into my garage after deliveries, my soul is full.

Each day I feel a little less scared about the now, and a little more hopeful about seeing you all on the other side. Every day you are showing us that you love us as much as we love you. And while we can’t wait to have you back to browsing with your own hands, for now, I will sleep with a paste of lotion under gloves every night, so that I can wash my hands all day and touch the books for you.

Books are essential. You are essential. Thanks for helping us be essential.