Books, books, books galore!

Currently, I am visiting a friend in Virginia, and for Christmas she gave me a gift card to an amazing used bookstore in Lynchburg called Bookshop on the Avenue. Since this wasn’t my first time in this particular used bookstore, I knew my way around a bit and was able to navigate from the classics section upstairs to the abundant general fiction section downstairs that held my heart and soul.

I love everything about used bookstores. The smells, the way the books are even in piles on the floor because of the lack of shelf space, and the way it’s possible to find some really great treasures if you’re willing to take the time to dig a little bit. However, this particular used bookstore adventure was even more amazing because rather than spending my own money on books, I had a gift card. Yes, I was going to get books, and they would be free.

Here are the treasures I found:
1. Run by Ann Patchett– I have read Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett, and I loved it. Since Truth & Beauty is probably one of the best books I’ve read in a while, I’m excited to enjoy another great read by the same author. When I found this signed first edition of a book I haven’t read by Ann Patchett for only $5.95, I definitely couldn’t pass it up!
2. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See– I’ve read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan as well as Peony in Love by Lisa See, and they have both been absolutely amazing, so I knew that I couldn’t pass up another great read. I can’t wait to read it.
3. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers– I was excited to find this treasure since I have been wanting to read it for quite a while. A friend of mine read it a few months back and said she thought I’d like it, so I can’t wait to see if she’s right.

At this point, it seems as though I have more books in my To Be Read pile than I know what to do with. However, since classes of the spring semester don’t start back until January 14th, I figure I have plenty of time to at least make a good dent into my constantly-growing pile.

Natural beauty in a fractured world.

Driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Sometimes it takes my breath away that I live in such an incredible place. However, more than that, it seems surprising that I’ve only lived here a year. When you consider how attached I’ve become to all the natural beauty that’s around me as well as the wonderfully accepting people who live in Asheville, you’d probably assume that I’ve been living here for years. Truthfully, that’s how it seems sometimes.

I’ve had very few times in my life that I could honestly say that I have completely loved the way my life seemed to be spanning out before me. However, I would definitely consider now to be one of those times. No, things aren’t perfect. Today just felt close to perfect. For instance, I got to campus 30 minutes earlier than I normally do on Thursdays just so that I could take pictures of the fall leaves that are finally fully bursting with reds and oranges, I went to my favorite used bookstore to buy Life of Pi (which I started on Tuesday while I was at work but wasn’t able to finish obviously), and then I just spent some “me time” driving around town looking at all the incredible natural beauty that I’m fortunate enough to see on a daily basis. So yes, today was pretty perfect.

I’ve always loved natural beauty. Since I grew up making frequent trips to the mountains and went camping and hiking with my family starting at a very young age, I guess you could say that it was pretty obvious that I’d become a mountain/nature girl. However, despite having all that exposure when I was young, I love it for all my own reasons (even though all the hiking and camping definitely helped). I love it because it shows that even through adversity, there can still be beauty. Yes, that’s cliché, but it’s cliché for a reason. I think nature in itself has always reminded me that there is something to smile about in every situation. Though it may be something small, like a red leaf that has landed on the asphalt in front of you, it’s reason enough to stop, take pause and breath in the beauty that surrounds such a fractured world. Even as I write this, it seems sad to think of our world as fractured. However, when you consider all of the bad things that happen in the world for unknown reasons, I think it’s an accurate description. Despite its fractured nature, there is something to love about the persistence of natural beauty. No matter what, autumn always comes. Even if things seem like they are falling apart around us, we can count on the seasons. We can count on looking out before us and being overcome with love for the mountains we call home.

Guess What? I’m A Working Girl Now!

Yes, you read right. I’ve been hired!! Ah, that feels so good to say. The UNC Asheville Bookstore has hired me, and this will be my first actual job (not counting the summers I worked for my grandfather). I am seriously so excited. I really can’t stop smiling!!

Yes, it’s a job. And yes, after a few weeks I may start getting bored with it, but truthfully, being able to be independent will override that. It’s always been hard for me to depend on my parents for money, but this job will get me on the road to being independent…and I can’t wait to begin the journey. Granted, there will be tired days and hurdles along the way, but that’s where this blog comes in…the place I can vent while also gaining support from you fellow bloggers who are also facing the bumps and bruises of life.

Anyway, my first shift is today (from 10am to 2pm), and I can’t wait. When I went in to the bookstore yesterday to turn in my paperwork, I met the manager of the UNC Asheville bookstore. After only knowing her a few minutes, I already love her personality. She’s cheerful and funny and very friendly, and I couldn’t imagine having a better “boss.” Also, I’m looking forward to this semester being busier. Last semester, though it was my first semester at UNC Asheville, I had a light academic load (because I wanted to get adjusted). However, I’m used to having a crazy packed schedule. My senior year of high school, I was taking 2 AP classes, I was the editor-in-chief of my school paper, and I was a literary editor for my school’s literary magazine….aka CRAZY. So, this past semester when my schedule wasn’t jam-packed, I had more free time than I knew what to do with. I spent too much time on my computer and just too much time sitting in my room thinking of things that I could be doing.

So, therefore, this semester I’ve righted some wrongs. I’ll be working at the bookstore three days a week, spending lots of time in the copy editing room of UNC Asheville’s newspaper (since I found out last night that I’ll be helping with editing this semester…yay!), as well as getting all my coursework done and making time for the amazing friends that I’ve made in Asheville. It’ll be crazy busy, but I am SO ready. Wish me luck at my first day on the job! I’ll let you know tomorrow how my first day went, so stay tuned!