McHuston Booksellers

Rare, Collectible, & Otherwise

Tag: Pryor (Page 18 of 105)

Did you ever just consider what went on?

February 14, 2016 /

How was your day? WAIT! Before you answer that… let me ask you a couple of questions. Okay? The day.

Maybe you didn’t have to be up by a certain time today and you got to sleep in… already a reason for a positive start. The alarm banged you awake?

At least, you woke up.

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Had the day off, did ya? Being a weekend and all. How can a day like that be anything but glorious? A day OFF! I get wobbly-kneed just thinking about such a thing. Oh. Wait a minute. You mean you had to work? Like we did?

Well.

We had jobs to go to, didn’t we?

Even if it is work that is less than pleasant, it pays a bill or two doesn’t it? Or – if it the work amounts to gotta-do-it work (called honey-do jobs in my generation), maybe you got something accomplished you can scratch off the list. If it wasn’t finished, maybe you made progress.

If it didn’t get done, was it because of a cough?

Well, then maybe at least you have your health. Where is this going? To this point – nowhere. We can get so caught up in the day to day that we sometimes forget to see where we are. You know, like all those float trips down the river. Paddle, paddle, paddle, and if you don’t look up, you don’t realize you’re making progress.

Sometimes it is good to rest the oars and just let the river carry you onward.

How was your day?

Did you speak to anyone? Did they respond? Did you smile once? Maybe more than once? Did you have a chance to grin and let it slip by? (That happens.) Did you receive a compliment and feel good about it? Did you compliment someone? Did you finish on time? Did you drive to work without crashing? Were the traffic lights in your favor, and if not, was there a good song on the radio that made the waiting bearable?

Did you drive on the expressway without having to coming to a complete halt? (Even after so many years of driving the BA, I did not realize this happens everyday. Those of you dealing with it have the gift of patience and get good-day bonus points….)

How was your day?

Did you see someone who means the world to you? Did you tell them “I love you?” Did you walk outside on a sunny February day in Oklahoma and remember that folks in other parts of the country have to don heavy overcoats, hats, gloves, and galoshes (remember THAT word?) just to step onto the front porch?

My alarm went off, and I don’t recall upon awakening being thankful for being alive. It’s hard for me to reflect on something just started. But the day is over and now I have the time.

I’m glad I woke up today. And, I’m happy that I had the chance to race around and do my work. It was a tough day, but the three most-taxing hours got completed with a sense of pride and accomplishment. People told me they enjoyed their lunches. People hoped I would tell Dustin what a good job he does preparing the meals. I did.

The car started. I drove to the house without incident. There was a good movie on. I watched it and enjoyed the ending. As the credits rolled up the screen, I thought back on the movie. And the day.

I had hugged her. And she hugged me back.

Sometimes simple things can make a day. I hope you can remember all the little things that go in to making a great day. They are so easily overlooked, like diamonds scattered along a sandy beach.

Remember someone today, and tell them how you feel if given the chance.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

McHuston

Booksellers & Irish Bistro
Rose District
122 South Main St. Broken Arrow, OK!

On shared books and times.

February 4, 2016 /

She eased her way over to where I was standing, wearing a mixed expression of curiosity and caution. I was talking at the time, the microphone in my hand. When I set it down, she leaned in for a closer look.

“That’s you?” She was shaking her head, slowly. “I thought you were a man.”

Thinking that same thing about myself, I was little distressed that her opinion seemed to be wavering. But I’d run into it before, when someone met in person the one they’d been listening to regularly on the radio. Reality rarely matches imagination. We were broadcasting records live from a furniture store, something we did back in the days of 45 RPM. (Google it.)

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Clearly, she thought I should have looked as tall as my voice might have hinted. That’s the thing about working in radio. You talk to people everyday, but there’s no face-time. Listeners come to know the voice in the box.

Waiting on folks who come in the shop provides me plenty of in-person conversations. The voice hasn’t changed much, but it doesn’t come out of a skinny teenager any longer. I have to admit, I enjoy chit-chat these days, however trivial. Over time, I’ve gotten to know some customers a little bit, jobs and family-life basics, and such.

“Do you worry?” one of our regulars asked the other day. “Do you worry when someone who usually comes in – doesn’t show up?”

I do.

It even comes up in the kitchen. Dustin might remark that so-and-so hasn’t been in for a while. I’ve brought up the same sort of thing. Once I remarked to a lunch guest that I hadn’t seen a couple who often sat near him. I had seen him speak to them on occasion.

“Oh,” he said. “They moved out of town. Couple of weeks ago.”

It’s crazy, but I was a little hurt that the couple hadn’t mentioned they were quitting Broken Arrow. Foolish on my part. I had come to expect to see them, knew their drinks and lunch favorites. But – honestly, and I realize it now – I was no more a part of their lives than the I-thought-you-were-a-man lady was a part of mine.

Sometimes, there is no explanation at all.

There was a couple who told me they had weekly business in Broken Arrow, and they enjoyed stopping in for lunch. They came in often enough that I could set the table and have their drinks poured – just before they sat down. Then, they never showed up. Ever. Again.

Maybe I offended them with chit-chat. Or maybe I turned in the order wrong. Maybe they moved to Texas, too. Whatever the case, I’ve not seen them in years now.

Sad truths are difficult.

Ordered a book for a regular guest and long-term customer. When it arrived, I propped it up on the front counter knowing he’d be in for it within the week.

Except he wasn’t.

Cleaning the countertop a couple of days ago, I moved it out of the way and, as I did, I thought about him and wondered that he had not yet been in to pick it up.

Today, after paying for a couple of books, a lady on the other side of the counter remarked that she was just in town for a funeral. Her companion mentioned a name, and that she had heard him remark more than once about the “Irish stew” and how much he enjoyed it. Of course, I immediately knew who it was she was talking about and it was as though I’d been hit in the chest with a mallet.

And now I know why the book is still sitting there, waiting for him to come by.

Rest in peace, Mr. D.

I’ll tackle the book for you and give you a first hand account of it later – but please be patient.

I’m becoming a slow reader.

McHuston

Booksellers & Irish Bistro
Rose District
122 South Main St. Broken Arrow OK!

It’s just good Bidness.

January 23, 2016 /

I learned about the new Rose District plan a little early. The fellow who stopped in the shop Friday morning said he had just come from a press conference and wondered about my thoughts on the proposal.

He was Samuel Hardiman, business writer for the Tulsa World, and he filled me in on the particulars. In answer to his question, I answered that – in my humble opinion – the Rose District has been a success, the result of research, planning, and perseverance.

It was still a surprise when I got to the business section of the paper and saw the first sentence of his article. (And I loved the artist’s rendition of me playing beside the proposed splash pad…)

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There had been some district gossip that the lovely clock at the Farmer’s Market square was going to be uprooted in favor of a water fountain. Not a drinking fountain – but the public park kind. That rumor was updated to include the words “splash pad,” a fixture that is a lovely thing for some people, but – I imagine – a little difficult for someone selling fresh produce of a morning.

Still, and as I mentioned to Mr. Hardiman, changes are a good thing, at least when it comes to attracting the public. I like clocks. And I wouldn’t mind a bit if they relocated it in front of the book shop. I’m certain someone will point out that it was only recently installed and already they are uprooting it.

As someone who used to move the living room furniture around – just because – I like the idea of introducing new features. Doesn’t matter to me how long or short a time a thing has been in place. It feels good to look down every once in a while and see a new pair of shoes on your feet.

Even if the old ones weren’t quite worn out.

The writer also mentioned the plan for additional renovation in the heart of the district. Streetscaping as they call it. Apparently the plan is to redo another four blocks with matching sidewalks and landscaping. Mr. Hardiman wondered if I thought bigger is better.

Why not? I’ve heard that phrase, Bigger and Better.

More offerings will certainly give folks more reasons to visit. When there are multiple reasons to head to a certain area, it also makes repeat trips more likely. I’m all for that.

Maybe parking is going to be figured in there as well. Visitors aren’t going to arrive by hoverboard. Then again, we can’t park behind home plate for Drillers games in Tulsa, and the trek from the north-forty at Walmart is a longer distance than the off-Main parking in the Rose District.

So, bring it on.

The book shop has been through the orange-barrel-and-construction-fence phase several times and we’ll just grin and bear with it.

It ought to be a good thing and I ought to know.

I read it in the newspaper…

Come visit!

McHuston

Booksellers & Irish Bistro
Rose District
122 South Main St. Broken Arrow OK!

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