So, yesterday it was 80 and sunny. We opened all the windows, I did some yard work. Smiles everywhere. The lilacs are leafing out. Life was good. This morning, 40s, drizzly. Yuck. However, Molly actually slept 13 continuous hours last night, and woke up in a really good and adorable mood. After dance class this morning she wanted to go to the library, and we got there just in time for story time with Miss Donna - for the first time in almost a year, I think. Huzzah!
After, I blindly grabbed two books out of a bin in the kids section and Molly chose one. We sat down and read them and I realized somehow all three of them had to do with major issues she's working on: going to sleep vs dawdling at bedtime; going to school when she's 3 1/2; and learning what's fair when you share. We checked them out and were on our way. I was musing about the books on the way home and thought one of them is absolutely perfect for Molly's friend, who's birthday is coming up.
Mols fell asleep on the way home, and amazingly enough kept sleeping once we got here, so I immediately started calling around the bookstores and children's stores around the greater metro area. Learning Post, Borders, Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble (x2), Suite Dreams, Creative Kidstuff, and the local neighborhood bookshop I most love to support. Not one of them had it in stock, and not one of them could get it before the end of next week.
I got on Borders.com and found it, and ordered it. It will be on my doorstep, guaranteed, by tomorrow afternoon, and I didn't have to drive 20 miles and drag my kid in and out of the car in the rain to get it. It's not an obscure book. I've been to each of these bookstores within the last month or so and each has an enormous children's section (well, not Beaverdale books, but they do have quality options), and yet not one of them had it or could get me this book before the end of next week. If Borders online can get it to me tomorrow, why can't the company get a book to its own bookstore by tomorrow, or the day after, or Monday for that matter?
Further, I know for certain that I could buy science sets, bead sets, sticker books, Barbies, dressup tiaras, every brand-licensed stuffed animal ever made that has to do with a book, and even Thomas the Train train sets in the children's areas of the major bookstores. Why don't they stock more b o o k s at the b o o k stores. If I wanted licensed %#(, I'd go to a flippin toy store.
If it were the first time this had happened to me recently, it would be one thing. But they never ever seem to have the books I'm looking for at the bookstores anymore. I don't think my tastes are that unusual. And, as an avid reader and bibliophile I am sick of being told by a tired and snobby sounding bookseller they can order it for me, and have it by the end of the following week. That's ridiculous in an age when I can drive nowhere, deal with no a-hole bookseller who can't, by all appearances, spell or hear, type a few letters into the computer and presto have a book in my hands in a day's time.
I am a person who prefers to shop locally. I have a strong willingness to make every attempt at supporting local and family-operated businesses before chains. It's baffling. The chains are squishing out the mom&pops but even the locally operated chain stores aren't worth supporting if they can't get the merch they purport to sell. If anyone would let me, I'd be happy to spend money in our local economy.
Grr.
Cheryl
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