Tim Russert Dies

Can you believe it? I am shocked in a way I rarely am. I mean he was 58 and seemed just about the healthiest guy you would ever see. I am almost standing face-to-face to my mortality right now. Just this morning I was thinking about how he was going to take out his slate and chalk during the election reporting. I just cannot believe this.

I was shocked when Peter Jennings died but he was older and was fighting cancer. This is just strange.

Another one bits the dust

The giant Barnes & Noble store on 6th Ave and 23rd street closed a few weeks ago. This is just another one of those things that I like that has ended unceremoniously. Most restaurants either stop serving dishes we like if they've not shut doors already. Most stores we like close doors. Most things we like deteriorate. Very strange how that works.

Anyway, this closing of B&N is particularly troubling. This was one of those places where I could go to after work once in a while and be just between books. No one but me and books. I could browse through, buy and just feel elevated in some snobbish but very real sense.

But of course, all good things (and even some bad ones) must come to an end. The big bookstore closed without much fanfare. I fear that it will be replaced by an Old Navy. It is strange how we want to put less and less inside our heads and more and more on our bodies.

I wonder kids will ever even know a bookstore other than Amazon ?(which I have nothing against but doesn't make up for B&N for ambiance)