As a family, one of our favorite things to do is visit a book store, especially a used book store.  There was once a great used bookstore here in our little town but, alas, it 's gone.  Like a lot of businesses in our area, the population just isn't big enough to keep some places going long.  The tourist industry helps but tourists don't generally visit our area to buy used books.  (We would but we are not the average tourist.)

Anyway, it's been a long time since we've been to a used book store.  So yesterday we ventured out to find the two that are still in business in our county.  The first one was seventeen miles south and the minute I opened the door, I wanted to run.  It looked as bad or worse on the inside as it did on the outside (I wanted to be hopeful but I had a BAD feeling about this place).  Books everywhere, on the floor, in a window sill.  The place needed razing, no hope for remodel.  The woman behind the counter didn't even look at us.  I never went near where she was, as it was dark at that end of the store.  We went upstairs and it was worse.  Chad pulled out a book that revealed a lot of cobwebs and dust.  Alec reached to pick up a book on the floor and dropped it quickly, saying, "Mom, it's wet!"  Out came my "Wet Ones" wipes to wash his hands.  I found Todd and said, "Let's go", which he readily agreed.  I couldn't get out of there fast enough.  The kids said the place smelled.  Now, it has been raining for days and I imagine the carpet was wet because of leaks in the roof but still.  I was so creeped out, I couldn't wash my hands enough with the wipes I keep in the car.  (Yes, if you've read my posts long enough, you know I am the daughter of "Queen of Wet Ones".)  We drove further south.

There are two coastal towns that we visit fairly often, the first one was where this bookstore from the "depths of despair" was located.  And it's kind of an icky coastal town anyway but it's one of the most popular tourist destinations in our state.  Don't know why.  In stark contrast, further down the coast, is an adorable little town that we love.  It gets a good share of tourists as well but the people in this town really care about the place - it shows.  And in this place is a nice little used bookstore.  We had fun, didn't spend a whole lot either.  We found some books that my sons were looking for and a few books for Carmen.  We talked about books with the owner.  He even left for a few minutes to go next door and I told him we'd mind the store for him (it's THAT kind of town). 

I had to laugh when I first walked in.  Prominently displayed at the end of one of the rows was a giant cookbook of international recipes that I own.  I bought my copy of this cookbook back in the mid 1980's, when a kid was peddling them door-to-door at the office I worked at in Southern California.  How a copy of this rather obscure book ended up in the Northwest coast is beyond me.  It's a strange life.

Our books go through a process when they get home.  Before anyone can read them, they get cleaned by Chad or myself and book covers are usually removed.  Then Chad has to record them in his card file that will someday become our card catalog and finally, they can be enjoyed.  Chad has already blazed through most of the books he bought.  I'm sorry now I didn't get anything for myself but I as we have over 1000 books in our home, I am confident I will find something to read after I finish my current book on George Washington and his grand plan for the Potomac.  It's just so fun to buy books.  I'm glad our kids enjoy it, too.

I'm also trying to teach my kids to be picky about the choices of books they make.  There are a ton of books not worth the paper they are printed on.  We came across a lot of those.  But when you encounter a book worth your time, it's a treasure.