Joy, and How To Find it

Carrie writes…

The changes that recently (does time exist anymore?) came to Skylark Bookshop came in wave after white capped wave. For a while there, it seemed like Alex and I had to check in several times a day, to adjust and readjust. Then we gradually fell into a rhythm. It was not what we ever expected our shop lives to look like, but it felt more like gentle lapping waves at our shore. It felt manageable.

Skylark never stopped . . . okay there was a five minute span there when Alex and I were texting and a lag between texts made it seem like we couldn't even receive shipments, much less get books to customers. It was an ugly five minutes . . . okay, I cried . . . but then it was over. Some of our staff took extra time with their families. Some worked from home. We all kept in touch, but it was a lonely in touch. We missed the hum of one another, as we missed you.

Now the waves are retreating, unpredictably. We know adapting is part of the long game, but adapting in the direction of having you in the shop again brings us joy. And since we have all that extra joy hanging around, I wanted to share some bits of it with you.

None of us like to think too hard about Faramola graduating and moving onward, but we also love her ambition. We love her. Recently her awesomeness has been recognized in some pretty major ways. She truly is headed to do some incredible things. My new routine involves random shouts and whispers of "Yay, Faramola!" She rewards me with a smile every single time. I encourage you all to chime in at random. Because, seriously, Yay, Faramola!

Our phone line gets tied up . . . a lot. Some of it is busy and some of it is how we get to spend time with you now. On each end of the line, we attempt efficiency and sometimes get distracted. The excitement when we say "Hi, Joe/Marsha/Lily/Kelcie/Jeri/Justin/Peggy/Pam/Suzanne(I could keep going)" is serious excitement. We wish we had more time to touch base, but the glimmers are shiny.

My car now needs an oil change. That is to say, while we couldn't bring your books curbside, Alex and I delivered a lot of books. It was fun seeing how many of you are neighbors. It was particularly fun dropping off the same book to three different houses on a cul-de-sac and pondering the upcoming discussion. I loved texting "book delivery!" and seeing you grin from your door before I could put my car into gear. We are still doing a few deliveries (see website for restrictions) but are happy to be getting home in time for dinner now. My husband is thrilled about the early oil change . . . or something.

Yay, Faramola! (See what I did there?)

The Paris Hours met the world. So many feels.

Speaking of The Paris Hours, Becky and I spent a few hours last week prepping the mail packages. As I typed your names into the computer we greeted you . . . no really . . . we talked to each of you, shared some of our favorite memories (we might be a young store, but oh my word, the memories!), and laughed. For the record, Becky is amazing to laugh with.

Also for the record . . . we need to tidy the shop. It is possible that we don't visit the recycle daily anymore (unless Chris is working . . . thank goodness for Chris) and boxes are our new decor. It is also possible that we have rearranged some of our inventory to make room for things like puzzles, and curbside pick-ups.

I have always enjoyed opening boxes, but there are new squeals of joy these days. Some for the distraction products like the puzzles, and even more when a publisher ships us something in a perfectly sized box for a set of books about to head out into the brave world. Beth is our master of oooing in excitement. You should hear it sometime. Joyful.

Not to leave anyone out, Erin is our new rock star on emails. She can pretty much plow us all in email answering efficiency. Though we all sign "Team Skylark," a huge percentage of those replies come from her. I think she has extra hands. As much as she loves trees, I wouldn't put growing limbs past her.

Also, Carol . . . Carol does a million and one amazing things on a daily basis, but right now she is my absolute hero. Carol procured me extra Snack Tuna Packs. This might sound silly, but I have been living on those five-minute multi-tasking lunches. Tuna matters folks. Carol matters.

Oh and one last thing.

Yay, Faramola!