This adrenaline surge brought to you by Crane Stationary

still Jan 2, 2009

Stopped by Paper Patch, stationary store on Exchange Street. Struggling-along little place. Standing in front of the Crane Stationary section (small, but there) I felt a surge of energy, exhilaration almost flow through me. At the checkout I asked the shopkeeper if she had fountain pen cartridges and she referred me to another shop (which I couldn't ultimately find).

When I explained my project, her eyes lit up like someone had just given her a pony. There was hope in her face.

*

Stopped by Longfellow Books and asked after postcard books and the book Brenda mentioned yesterday about the folks who spent a year trying not to buy anything. The booksellers looked it up for me.

I explained this project and the guy who was helping me said, "My job would be impossible without the internet. I just looked this up online for you." He seemed almost insulted. I said, "yes, but I had to talk to you, and I've never talked to you before." That seemed to help. Later I wished I'd said, "Yes, but because of this, I'm buying books from YOU." Of course couldn't leave without a gorgeous library edition of Walden and a half-price copy of The Polar Express.

***Must be careful not to spend too much money while doing this project.***