No, my friends both near and far away, it is not yet winter in northern Michigan. That season may well be right around the corner, but for now fall lingers on. In some ways lately, it seems that even summer has not completely left us.
Not only are roses still blooming, but Dog Ears Books on Waukazoo Street is still open. Yes, the lights are on Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sometimes Mondays, too, but that’s iffier. Special orders still welcome, as always.
After all those Wendell Berry poems read at John Brabanec’s memorial service, I had to replenish Berry titles in the shop and found, to my great delight, that his only children’s book, Whitefoot, is once again available. Who can resist a mouse story? David was captivated. The illustrations are charming, too.
I must confess that I can’t hear the question “Is the bookstore still open?” without having to suppress a very heavy sigh. If it came by e-mail or telephone from someone in another state, I would understand, but Northporters? People who leave their homes to meet for coffee on Mill Street? Don’t they ever drive down Waukazoo and see that OPEN flag waving in the breeze at 106?
No, friends [SIGH!], the bookstore year ends with the calendar year and not before. Dog Ears will be open through the holidays, as always. The bookstore has never closed for the winter before January, and I fully expect to re-open in April—again, as usual.
Autumn won’t last forever, and Dog Ears Books is hardly immortal. Someday, sooner or later, the Fat Lady sings for each of us. But not yet, friends. Not yet, not yet, though the sun kiss the horizon an hour earlier now and November darkness fall without pity on readers, writers and booksellers!
6 comments:
I'm getting behind in my reading, blog and otherwise. :( Darn job! I hope you have a lovely continuation of fall. I know I noticed the roses here still blooming. Though they seem a little tired, like they'd welcome some snow. Not me though. Enough snow will arrive regardless, the later it shows up the closer we are to spring. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it!
All I'd add to your theory, Dawn, is that we should get enough snow that lake and groundwater levels won't be too low in spring. I'm pleased and grateful that you made time to catch up with Books in Northport. I'm almost through with my first reading of MARRY OR BURN and will have to overcome my speechless awe over Valerie Trueblood's writing so that I can say something sensible about the book. Wow.
Like Waukazoo this time of year is so congested people are so busy they miss the open sign? (Or they're distracted by the babes on the exercise equipment across the street.)
Oh, Bill, thanks! I feel so much better now that you've put forward a logical explanation: of course it's the "babes" on their stationary bikes in the window across the street! Why didn't I think of that myself?
If it makes you feel any better, I always get confused about the winter hours at Chris and Sonny's Torch Lake Market, even though it is one of my favorite places in the world and even though I pass by the informative sign every blessed time I go anywhere. And there are not even any hunks working out across the street. In fact, the thought of that particular contrast with Northport has sent me off into a gale of giggles.
Bless the roses, bless Dog Ears Books, and bless Wendell Berry. I did not know about Whitefoot. I believe I must have a copy. Email to follow.
Contrast? Not as much as you'd think. I might be one of the younger "babes" if I went across the street to exercize. About the Torch Lake Market, you may forget the hours, but you know they are open for business rather than closed for the season or forever!
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