summer of 86
march 14, 2006
about 15 minutes from my house, lies an old quiet college town. the feeling is antiquated where trees line the narrow streets and provide shadows to craftsman homes. i used to visit this place starting from when i was 16 and during the summers, i hid in used bookstores away from the afternoon heat. the smell of old literature, pages yellowed and wrinkled published in years long before there was an internet or a barnes and noble. i climbed rickety stairs to reach items that lured my eye. and in those hours of my youth, i found a sense of peace and solace that money couldn't buy.
after a big earthquake left this little college town in shambles, my beloved used bookstore was gone. during my years in college and being away from home, i didn't visit this sleepy town much. i wasn't even sure what had been rebuilt after the earthquake but it was almost as if a part of my teenage years have been cut out.
tonight i paid a visit to the quiet college town again. i actually stopped in to a local camera shop where the people are friendly, professional and who won't try to see you something you don't need. but it was something across the street that caught my eye:
"used books"
and the moment i stepped inside, i was in heaven.
again. after all these years.
i really need to bring my new camera to take photos of this quiet little college town. through my eyes....20 years later.
currently listening to: camera obscura, teenager
