Today was my last day as an employee of Attic Books. I wrote about it in an email to my friend and former co-worker, Jason Dickson, who now owns Muskoka Bookhouse in Bracebridge, Ontario. He had emailed me and asked me, "How was it?" I replied:
"Equal parts relief and regret.
This morning I had this amazing quiet hour at the front counter, dust jacketing books. I remembered my first day when Irene showed me how to mylar book jackets. There was only one customer -- a nice, clean and smart one -- and a cool breeze. Then I went upstairs and finished up my projects. At the end of the day, Marvin and I settled up my credit with some books. I've been working one day a week since November for book credit, so I had quite a sum and spent it all on Montgomery first editions he's had set aside for me. He drove me home so I wouldn't have to take them all on the bus. Then he came in and saw the nursery. I gave him a hug, and told him that it would be an understatement to say it had been a pleasure. Because, without hyperbole, working at Attic Books really did change the course of my life....There were a couple of moments when I wanted to cry, but I remembered that you would make fun of me, so I saved it for home...In the end, I came home to a quiet house, put away my beautiful books, had a good private cry and wrote you this email.
That is how it was.
Vanessa"
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Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAlmost made me teary reading it.