Oh dear Maile.... I have tears in my eyes as I read this. What a testimony to God's faithfulness and the grace and gift of actual people.
Where am I finding community? Well, I ambled down the street today to a neighbor's garage sale and kibbitzed with several friends in the process and after 30+ years in this neighborhood I realized it's been a loooooong time since I've had conversations like that.
We're all craving that organic, in person withness of each other--we just don't realize it until the gift arrives and we embrace it.
Since I don't live in y o u r neighborhood to lend a hand at Noooks, I'll be sending my book orders your way.
Thanks so much for sharing that little vision of you with your neighbors, Jody. Yes, I, too, believe that is the "withness of each other" that we are all craving...but might not realize it. Thanks for being here and thanks for your continued support!
I’m so sorry! I will be praying for good restoration and insurance and all the headaches that come with this sort of thing. We work on the other side of it with as a restoration business — wish we were closer to help you dry out.
Thanks for the prayers and encouragement, Annelise! Being on this end of a needed restoration, I can enthusiastically say that the work you all do is so important!!
These words struck a deep, resonant chord for me: “This is happening. I thought. This is happening. Don’t fight it. Just be present to it.” I’m so sorry about the flood & damage 💛
Thank you, Allison! I was surprised by how much being in the present was what helped me navigate through the experience with some semblance of peace. Who knew?!
May the love and help and support pour in - in greater quantity than the waters!! I was soooo sorry to hear about this and have been praying for you folks! Here to help as needed!
I'm dying to know about the book by the priest who uses bad language and tells questionable stories! I live all the way in Western PA, but will happily buy that book from your store. Love- one book lover to another.
PS- Sorry about the flood. I own a business too and accidentally flooded part of my own office once. Did you know those fancy Hydromassage tables will spray 32 gallons of water out in less than a minute with the velocity of a power boat motor? I didn't either until I didn't secure the lid correctly.
PSS- I have been dryer during a shower than I was then. I hope you can laugh at the visual!
Oh, Amanda! I have to admit, I'm loving the visual (he, he!), but yikes, I hope you had a quick path through the clean up. From our own experience here, I know it's no fun. And, in answer to your wonderings, the book was Cherished Belonging by Gregory Boyle. A challenging (in a good way) book to read in our current cultural climate. (And if you want to order a copy, just let me know!)
I live 4000 miles away and wish I could visit your store but you're podcast and your substack are so nourishing and stimulate me to keep on building community here in our neighborhood and through a community garden I run here in Cambridge, UK. The AI podcast episode led to a great conversation with my husband (also a writer), led to prayer, led to hope. Yesterday, even your very rough yesterday, your ripples spread very, very wide!
Praying for a smooth repair and restock process for you and for peace and courage in your heart.
Oh, Jennie, your comment was so encouraging! Thank you for sharing that little picture of you doing community in your own part of the world. It gave me a feeling of togetherness, even across oceans and borders. One big human family. Thanks for that!
You are so welcome. I honestly believe that marriages, families and communities which are thriving have a knock on positive effect on other marriages, families and communities.
Oh my, Maile!! What a time you've been through! I so admire your emotional stamina to keep writing and to keep giving yourself to this community. It means SO MUCH. I'll be praying for you and Shawn and all the details of restoring the shop.
I am so sorry for the flood! And the construction! (And the existence of AI, too, really.) Thank you for this reflection on community and good and hard days. Praying for you in the midst of it all.
Thank you, Courtney! And can I just say that your apology for AI made me chuckle. I definitely think there are some folks out there who need to be apologizing to HUMANITY for AI, but, friend, it's not you.
Thank you, Marcy. We continue to be amazed by the wonderful people that have come alongside us in this, every step of the way. And we are well on our way to mending!
Oh Maile, I'm so sorry!! I can affirm that what you guys are doing is such good work. I know it can be hard but keep on keeping on! Our city is so much better with Nooks in it 💛
Ah, the ups and downs of it all. I am so glad you had the boost of strength from that customer interaction still coursing through your veins when the deluge hit. This too shall pass, and all that jazz. It's still good work. Carry on, friend.
As nomads, finding community is a challenge for us. Reading things like this brings a sense of camaraderie, however small. Thanks for writing.
Thank you, Sherry, for reading. And for testifying to the truth that "this too shall pass." That was one of my Mim's favorite sayings and it fits perfectly here. Blessings to you in your wanderings, and may community spring up in the most unexpected places!
Oh friend! I cried through your recounting of the flood, from the early discovery to how frantic you must have been to all the people circling to help to the peace. I’m sorry this happened. And I’m grateful for the community of support to help lighten the load. It’s beautiful when that can happen, whether it’s an emotional load or a physical one.
Beka, I am so grateful for all of your continued support through the up and downs of this bookshop dream. You are a steady, ever-encouraging presence in the midst of it all. We so appreciate you and your friendship!
They say G-d doesn't give us more than we can handle Malle. You done good girl: everything you should. I' be over to help if I could but send you prayers and love
Oh dear Maile.... I have tears in my eyes as I read this. What a testimony to God's faithfulness and the grace and gift of actual people.
Where am I finding community? Well, I ambled down the street today to a neighbor's garage sale and kibbitzed with several friends in the process and after 30+ years in this neighborhood I realized it's been a loooooong time since I've had conversations like that.
We're all craving that organic, in person withness of each other--we just don't realize it until the gift arrives and we embrace it.
Since I don't live in y o u r neighborhood to lend a hand at Noooks, I'll be sending my book orders your way.
Thanks so much for sharing that little vision of you with your neighbors, Jody. Yes, I, too, believe that is the "withness of each other" that we are all craving...but might not realize it. Thanks for being here and thanks for your continued support!
I’m so sorry! I will be praying for good restoration and insurance and all the headaches that come with this sort of thing. We work on the other side of it with as a restoration business — wish we were closer to help you dry out.
Thanks for the prayers and encouragement, Annelise! Being on this end of a needed restoration, I can enthusiastically say that the work you all do is so important!!
These words struck a deep, resonant chord for me: “This is happening. I thought. This is happening. Don’t fight it. Just be present to it.” I’m so sorry about the flood & damage 💛
Thank you, Allison! I was surprised by how much being in the present was what helped me navigate through the experience with some semblance of peace. Who knew?!
May the love and help and support pour in - in greater quantity than the waters!! I was soooo sorry to hear about this and have been praying for you folks! Here to help as needed!
Jenny, I will happily take the blessing you offered above--thank you, sweet friend!
🙏 😘
I'm dying to know about the book by the priest who uses bad language and tells questionable stories! I live all the way in Western PA, but will happily buy that book from your store. Love- one book lover to another.
PS- Sorry about the flood. I own a business too and accidentally flooded part of my own office once. Did you know those fancy Hydromassage tables will spray 32 gallons of water out in less than a minute with the velocity of a power boat motor? I didn't either until I didn't secure the lid correctly.
PSS- I have been dryer during a shower than I was then. I hope you can laugh at the visual!
Oh, Amanda! I have to admit, I'm loving the visual (he, he!), but yikes, I hope you had a quick path through the clean up. From our own experience here, I know it's no fun. And, in answer to your wonderings, the book was Cherished Belonging by Gregory Boyle. A challenging (in a good way) book to read in our current cultural climate. (And if you want to order a copy, just let me know!)
I live 4000 miles away and wish I could visit your store but you're podcast and your substack are so nourishing and stimulate me to keep on building community here in our neighborhood and through a community garden I run here in Cambridge, UK. The AI podcast episode led to a great conversation with my husband (also a writer), led to prayer, led to hope. Yesterday, even your very rough yesterday, your ripples spread very, very wide!
Praying for a smooth repair and restock process for you and for peace and courage in your heart.
Oh, Jennie, your comment was so encouraging! Thank you for sharing that little picture of you doing community in your own part of the world. It gave me a feeling of togetherness, even across oceans and borders. One big human family. Thanks for that!
You are so welcome. I honestly believe that marriages, families and communities which are thriving have a knock on positive effect on other marriages, families and communities.
Oh my, Maile!! What a time you've been through! I so admire your emotional stamina to keep writing and to keep giving yourself to this community. It means SO MUCH. I'll be praying for you and Shawn and all the details of restoring the shop.
Thank you, Robin, for your kind words and your continued support of our work. We appreciate you so much!
I am so sorry for the flood! And the construction! (And the existence of AI, too, really.) Thank you for this reflection on community and good and hard days. Praying for you in the midst of it all.
Thank you, Courtney! And can I just say that your apology for AI made me chuckle. I definitely think there are some folks out there who need to be apologizing to HUMANITY for AI, but, friend, it's not you.
I am one of those northerners who generally apologize for everything. Not Canadian, but close.
I’m so sorry this happened! Hopefully not too many books were ruined and an insurance claim will help with replacements! Hang in there!
Thank you, Marcy. We continue to be amazed by the wonderful people that have come alongside us in this, every step of the way. And we are well on our way to mending!
Community is what makes Nooks good. You guys are what makes Nooks great. Love you guys.
Aw, Lore. My sweet friend. Thanks for being such a champion of our little bookshop dream. Hugs and love to you.
Oh Maile, I'm so sorry!! I can affirm that what you guys are doing is such good work. I know it can be hard but keep on keeping on! Our city is so much better with Nooks in it 💛
Lauren, you are so sweet! And thank YOU for being such a vibrant and active part of our community here at Nooks. We appreciate you!
Ah, the ups and downs of it all. I am so glad you had the boost of strength from that customer interaction still coursing through your veins when the deluge hit. This too shall pass, and all that jazz. It's still good work. Carry on, friend.
As nomads, finding community is a challenge for us. Reading things like this brings a sense of camaraderie, however small. Thanks for writing.
Thank you, Sherry, for reading. And for testifying to the truth that "this too shall pass." That was one of my Mim's favorite sayings and it fits perfectly here. Blessings to you in your wanderings, and may community spring up in the most unexpected places!
Oh friend! I cried through your recounting of the flood, from the early discovery to how frantic you must have been to all the people circling to help to the peace. I’m sorry this happened. And I’m grateful for the community of support to help lighten the load. It’s beautiful when that can happen, whether it’s an emotional load or a physical one.
Beka, I am so grateful for all of your continued support through the up and downs of this bookshop dream. You are a steady, ever-encouraging presence in the midst of it all. We so appreciate you and your friendship!
They say G-d doesn't give us more than we can handle Malle. You done good girl: everything you should. I' be over to help if I could but send you prayers and love
Thank you for the prayers and love, Andrea. They go much farther than you can imagine, and we are so appreciative of your support!