Season's Greetings

May your days be merry and bright--

Ephemeral Patterns

“Everything is temporary!” That’s one of my favorite movie lines. It’s from “Moonstruck,” and it’s the father’s response to his daughter’s defensive answer to his earlier question that the pinkie ring she’s wearing does, too, constitute an engagement ring because it’s temporary. Frost patterns on winter windows are obviously temporary. Can you see, through this second shot, the outline of our barn?



It is my earnest resolve that the chaos on our dining table be temporary. Last night I looked at it and thought, “I’m as bad as my dad!” After we kids had left home, he began treating the dining room as his office and the dining table as his desk. I’m afraid David and I are prone to the same bad habit, but it seems kind of a cheerful clutter over the holidays, whether it’s cards come in or going out, cookbooks and bowls (last week) or whatever.

Businesses often outlast their locations, with no pattern to the changes. Here’s another peek through the window of the new Nature Gems location, where I noticed this morning they have put up a Christmas tree, though the move from the corner is far from complete.


At the bookstore, I’ve limited wrapping clutter—no apology!--to one table, and I sort of like the look.

What do my scenes of chaos have to do with patterns? Antipodes, antitheses. Make of it what you can or will. There isn't much pattern or order to my thoughts this week. Recent big accomplishments, however, include finishing Stendahl's Le rouge et le noir (in time to add it to my 2009 list of books read) and reaching the last chapter of Joyce's Ulysses. I thought of saving that chapter for New Year's Day but then realized it couldn't go on this year's list if I did that. So I'll give it to myself as a present on Christmas Day. Molly's soliloquy! What a gift!

Sharon's Barns

Back home in Leelanau Township, I made the supreme effort last night, turning around after a quick supper of leftovers grabbed at the farm and coming back to Northport for an evening event, something I don’t do lightly. Time at home is too precious, and there’s never enough of it, but Sharon Kalchik was giving a presentation to the Northport Area Heritage Association about all the barns she has photographed in our township, and that I didn’t want to miss.

Beginning her project in 2005, Sharon expected to find maybe 40 or 50 barns--60 tops. She started taking pictures of those she knew. But more and more kept turning up, down long driveways, out of sight behind hills and woods, until she had documented 120, six of which are no longer standing, having either fallen in (2) or been intentionally burned (2) or dismantled (2). It’s been a labor of love for Sharon, growing out of a personal connection to several area barns she played in as a child.

“When will your book be out, and where will we be able to buy it?” was the first question after her presentation. I can only hope Sharon will overcome her modesty and get the township barn book put together while I still have a bookstore in Northport. Being able to offer treasures like this to the public is one of the great joys of being a bookseller.

Finally, since Sharon for years operated her own gift shop in Northport, the Rose Garden, I’ll close with this full-blown example, a late season beauty. Here's to you, Sharon, for a job well done!