Two weeks ago, certain members of my family gathered in New York to meander around, see the shows and see the sights. One place we meandered to was The Strand Bookstore, the most massive and comprehensive and wonderful bookstore in the land, the kind of place that makes your heart feel wiser and your brain do a happy dance. Knowing it's there actually gives me hope in the fate of this planet. But, I digress. While we were there, we learned that the Strand Annex, where they put all the books they can't fit in the main store, was going out of business. Immediately, this task came to mind. I knew I had to go and pay my respects.

So, three days later, off we go to say goodbye and maybe buy a book or two. The store was moderately full, for a bookstore these days, and many of the shelves were empty. My little sister went to go see if there were any good screenplays left. There were only two, and she didn't want either of them.

I, honestly, was paying very little attention to the books. With no cash and 700-something pages of David Copperfield left to read for school, something else to read was the least of my worries, not to mention that I was fighting the heat and my camera, which was dying a slow and painful death. However, it lived long enough to take a little proof.

I meandered into the children's section, which reminded me so much of the children's section at a library it made me smile. The red carpet, blue chairs, friendly smiles on the covers. Made me wonder about the fate of libraries. I left my mark.

My little sister and I went to the desk to buy pins and stickers, the only things we could really afford. We put them on the counter, and the man behind it pushed them back to us. "Take 'em," he said. "Oh!" we said, jolted out of our confusion. So, we did, and I felt a little happier and a little sadder at the same time.

Finally, it was time to leave. On the way out, we saw a paper taped to the door explaining that the rent had been hiked up, that nobody was losing their job and that after they sold as much as they could they would pack up the rest of the books and haul them up to the main store. I felt much better hearing this news, but there was a still a misgiving gnawing at the back of my brain. I have no doubt that The Strand will live forever, for the same reason I know that Amoeba Records will live forever; they are both the best at what they do, and there are things you can find at both that simply can't be found anywhere else. Still, the fact that the Annex is closing can't be a good sign.

Down the street, I turned around and took a picture. I know one day I'll regret not buying a book or giving a more solemn farewell to the Annex, but I know in legend it will live on. And in the Main Store, of course.


LONG LIVE THE STRAND!