March 16
I wonder what it is about bookstores that attracts us. Often, I have
this urge to go to Barnes and Noble during the middle of the day, just
to wander around. Well, I have the leeway to do that these days and
it's dangerous, as Ball and I say. And today, I got endangered.
In our fave movie "Wings of Desire," there is a flock of
angels in a library. Many of them are leaning over children and adults
as they read and learn. Don't know if there are that many in a modern
day bookstore. But I do become inspired when I go into one. Maybe it's
the feeling that there is so much creativity some other people, laying
around, waiting for me to delve into it. Or maybe the whole motivation
for being there is considerably less noble, to use part of their name.
I could be that going to a bookstore is a seemingly justifiable excuse
for goofing off. Yeah, that's the ticket.
The smart people in their marketing department must have understood
that when they make it so comfortable for you to be there. But the fact
is, I often do buy books that help me in my profession or life in general--or
ones that I just enjoy reading.
One book I bought on impulse today is by Dominck Dunne, who grew up
in Beverly Hills. It's full of really intriguing photos of and tales
about famous movie industry types from the l950's in social settings.
Now on a practical level, why did I buy it? But then, maybe having a
fantasy about being there with them will expand my imagination in some
way I don't fathom yet. That's the angelic aspect of bookstores and
libraries, I suppose. When you become inspired, your life is enhanced
in ways beyond rational understanding.
****
Went out to eat with Linda and Ru tonight. I shouldn't have had a big
glass of wine--I tried to start reading something practical when I got
home and went to sleep. Not a good use of time. The older I get, the
more I value my time awake. No doubt, my mortality is crowding in on
me.