Friday, January 23, 2009

It's 12:20 AM... That Makes It a New Day

 "PRESENT, noun.  That part of eternity dividing the domain of disappointment from the realm of hope."  -- Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

Assuming that there will be some satisfaction in doing this on my own, to no other purpose now other than to amuse, and potentially to no other audience than those of my friends who may find me here, I begin again this morning after what has proved to be a not particularly surprising, if singularly disappointing day at work at the bookstore.  To anyone who should happen on this, I ought to explain that while I have been writing regularly for a blog elsewhere, my intention now is to begin anew, just here.  The habit is established and I will not willingly alter it simply because I no longer have any particular purpose for continuing. 

And with that last sentence, I do believe I have finally and officially entered the community of regular habitues of the 21st Century internet, no?

So, for the present, my intention is to use this space to write about books, bookselling, book buying and collecting, and frankly, anything else that may happen to catch my fancy.  And as my fancy, such as it is, seems seldom to stray from this singular obsession, any readers I may potentially attract need not worry that I will go any further from that topic than my own limited education, experience and resources will carry me.

I will pledge to you, o' my as yet imaginary readers, this much at least: you will never hereafter herein find anything intended to offend, cause me to endanger my livelihood or the continued affection of my employers, coworkers or acquaintance, or in anyway upset the happy equilibrium of my marriage.  Such confessions as I may make will be of shortcomings all too obviously my own.  Such criticism as I may be inclined to record will be, if not always constructive, at least well intentioned.  And any controversies arising from anything written here, will be clearly of my own making, and will, in all likelihood, be resolved by prompt apology, a swift and sincere admission of a woeful ignorance of the facts, and an embarrassingly predictable refusal to go anywhere near the subject again.  Obviously, my opinions are my own.  I speak for no one else.  So let me just say, from jump-street, as it were, I am quite sure you are right and I am wrong.  I will try to amend my thinking accordingly, but do please be patient.  My misjudgments have been many, my errors frequent, my improprieties habitual, my tone, often as not, troublesome to delicate sensibilities, but I never meant, in most cases, the slightest harm.  

I am only what I am; a bookseller of 20 some odd years experience and a lifelong bibliophile. I make no claim to special knowledge or expertise of any kind.  And if that doesn't qualify me to "blog," well then, I don't know what would.

If after that last, anyone still intends to keep reading, I welcome your kind attendance and correction.  I can not promise you any excitement beyond what you might find in my actual company, but I would hope that will prove to be enough -- for now.  I may yet improve.  Else why are we here?

4 comments:

  1. Good afternoon,

    I found your blog as it was linked on a 'Friends of Helene Hanff' Facebook page. I have enjoyed your poetry readings and have come to the beginning to spend some time with you and your blog. I'm looking forward to reading.

    Warm regards,

    Vanessa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just discovered this comment, Vanessa. Most kind. Hope you've enjoyed our time together.

      Delete