Notes from Carrie: Exultation.

I joke that working retail during the holidays is similar to labor. One forgets the depth of the chaos and exhaustion and dives into the joys every time with excitement . . . . and plans. We see our families less, we sleep less, we eat less . . . but the mores are so enriching that we don't look back. One of the beautiful things about these busy days, one of the best "mores," is observing and soaking in the beauty of the Skylark community.

This season I have been struck by the extraordinary compassion, openness, and closeness carried into our shop. All that our households and communities have gone through has brought something extraordinarily beautiful into our daily human interactions.

During our previous holiday seasons, we would often see the family herd pour through the door, followed by a quick scatter. Everyone in need of a breath, some space, some solitude. These days, however, we see the herd sticking together. Everyone wants a vote. Everyone wants to share their thoughts. No one is sulking by the door (though really, you have to work HARD to sulk in a bookshop folks so these people earn some credit), no one is napping in the comfy chairs upstairs as they wait it out (though naps are totally legit and we adore it when someone knows their loved one is going to take that long and calmly settles in). These days, families and friends blob together from one genre to another. They are talking books and they are talking life. They are asking difficult questions of one another, answering them willingly, and it makes me a bit teary. Bonds are closer y'all.

"I need something sweet for my daughter," is now "I know how much pressure her job puts on her right now, and I'd like something lighter she can escape into." "Do you have something that is encouraging," is now "My Uncle lost his wife, and he is hoping for a book that helps him tap into and process his grief." I just want to hug all of you, or hand you a warm mug of tea and some slippers. But, really the way we do that is by setting a book into your hands and saying "This book is as such, and might be perfect because of these things." You are giving us such wide open doorways to send the paged packages into. I don't know if we have ever had such consistent feelings of really knowing what you all are asking for . . . which means we are tapping into some really heartfelt recommendations. We are invested.

And it isn't just as you shop for other people. We are watching you take care of yourselves. Buying that dang subscription for yourself. Bringing a friend to choose a book to truly discuss together as you both read. In house book clubs. Long distance reading bonding. Honoring your current reading needs. Figuring out the world and how to process it. Figuring out how to exist in the now - or to move forward - or to come to terms with the past.

And what really gets me in adoration mode - you are bonding with strangers over books with such openness, because you realize that we are all part of this massive flock. Did you know that a group of Skylarks is called an Exaltation? Perfect, right?

We can't even begin to count the number of you regulars that walk through our doors and heave a huge sigh of relief (we get it, it is our place of peace too). In our first year I felt giddy each time someone walked in for the first time and let out that little gasp of wonder. Now I tally these sighs of peace into my soul.

So really, I just wanted to say ROCK ON Skylarkians. I'm so freaking proud of each and every one of you. And I adore you, right up through our high ceilings and into this big and tricky world we are living in.