People always talk about the magic of Christmas like it's something that sparkles in the air--something you can almost touch if you believe hard enough.  The lights, the music, the snow (if you're lucky), and that warm feeling you're supposed to get when you look around and see joy everywhere.   But what is Christmas magic really? If I'm being honest, I don't remember it anymore.  Or maybe I've just forgotten what it feels like.  

A Love Affair With The Unknown

There's something magical about the countdown to Christmas -- cozy evenings, the scent of pine and cinnamon, and the small daily joys that lead up to the big day.  What better way to mark the season than with stories?

The Cozy Magic of Jólabókaflóð: Finding Comfort in Simplicity This Christmas

Lately, I've been thinking about how Christmas used to feel...slower, simpler, and less complicated.  This year, with so many people facing layoffs, higher prices, and cutbacks in assistance, the season of giving looks a little different.  The usual spark of the holidays is dimmed by economic uncertainty.  For many families, the focus has shifted from finding the perfect gift to simply getting through the month...making sure there's enough for groceries, for gas, for keeping the lights on and heating their homes.   And yet, maybe this is the Christmas that brings us back to what truly matters. 

As a lonely  little girl, I spent most of my days surrounded by the quiet comfort of my library and my church. I was allowed to walk up over the hill in our backyard and go to both places alone.   I sang in the church choir on Sundays, and then on days they were open, I could be found tucked away in the stacks of books, surrounded by stories that took me where I wanted to go.  When I wasn't reading stories, I was writing them. My best friends were my animals and the two older librarians, Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Rose, who took me under their wings and taught me the ways of the library.  My dad taught me about reading, and my church taught me about music and love.  Through every chapter I read and every song I sang, I found pieces of who I wanted to be, even if it would take me 64 years to become her.  

When we first decided to open a USED bookstore, some people didn't share our excitement.  One friend, though I suppose I should say FORMER friend, told me, "You'll never make it. You can't compete with Amazon." I never said I was trying to compete with Amazon!  But that's fine. Losing a friendship over a dream just showed me who was really in my corner.