Tuesday, February 6, 2018

TToT: Shakespeare and Company



It is not my usual habit to include material items in my count of things I feel thankful for, but the parcel that arrived via Deutsche Post today represents much more than the material.



In November I saw an Instagram post from Shakespeare and Company, an English bookstore in Paris.  The post explained The Year of Reading program offered by the bookstore.  Shakespeare & Co employees would package their recommended reads for the lucky participant to discover in their mailbox throughout 2018.  Immediately I sent the post on to my daughters who received it politely, but with far less enthusiasm than I would have anticipated.  So, I thought maybe it was just me who found the concept intriguing.  I mulled it over for days finally deciding that I was not comfortable spending the amount being charged on a gift for myself.


What I didn't realize until Christmas was that one daughter had seen the same post minutes before I did.  She had already shared it with her sister, and they were discussing what a perfect gift it would make for me as they received my forwarded post. They were getting in touch with their brother and father and didn't need me complicating their plans.  


The first of three installments arrived today.  It did not disappoint.  The attention to detail in the packaging made my heart race just opening the box.  Literary quotes cover the wrappings.


The bags are sealed with the company logo, and it is also stamped inside each book.  Each of the books is wrapped with a note from the staff person who chose it explaining why they picked this particular book for the package.


Tucked inside each book is a bookmark featuring a different photographic image from the bookstore.  On a sheet of stationery a poem has been typed on an old typewriter in the store.  A poem is tucked into each book.  One of the books is even signed by the author.



Everything about this package was meant to make a literary nerd's heart swoon...and it succeeded.  


Which brings me to my list of Ten Things of Thankful this week:


For books and for words that have the power to move me.
For talented writers.



For Paris and memories of browsing at Shakespeare and Company.  For grown children who are intrepid world travelers and have encouraged me to be as well.



For the four incredible and generous people I am lucky enough to claim as my family.  They are the very best gifts of all. 



                                                                            TToT

I am cheating a bit. The Last Nice Thing Someone Did for You was one of the prompts for the Writer's Workshop this week.  I saw the prompts right after posting this piece, and knew it works for that prompt as well.
mama kat

22 comments:

  1. What a thoughtful gift, and a wonderful surprise for you! Enjoy your books!

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    1. I don't think I will ever outgrow the joy of receiving a package in the mail!

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  2. Not only is this the most awesome gift ever, it is made even more special by the fact that your daughters had already seen the ad and knew it was just perfect for their Mom! That speaks volumes about your relationship. I love that they books came packaged so well and with the wonderful enclosures you described. What a treat! This gift is far more than just a "material item" it is a gift of love that you will enjoy many times over, a perfect thankful item if ever there was one! And yes, yay for family who "get you"! <3

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  3. very cool
    (if you don't mind) I may have to kindle some of them titles....

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    1. Do it! My daughter tells me that "everybody" was reading Exit West last year. That may be the one I start with. I need to wrap up the three books I am currently reading before I launch into it though.

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  4. So awesome. I hope to visit that bookstore one day. What a perfect gift. Sounds like the books are beautiful keepsakes for you. Enjoy and I hope to hear more about this when the other packages come.

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    1. The store itself is completely charming. It is across the river from Notre Dame. Could it be any more Parisian?!

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  5. Your kids sound wonderful. That is a nice gift.

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    1. They--and their father--are simply amazing!

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  6. What a wonderful TTOT post! I love how they are wrapped too. I bet your daughters were so excited to discover the best gift ever for you and to know how much you were going to love this. What a loving family you have.

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    1. They bless my life every single day, Pat. More than I can say!

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  7. Instagram did not do justice to what an amazing and thoughtful gift you got! Sigh!

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    1. It was so fun getting finding this waiting for me after work. I am sure I will love the books, but at this point I have already gotten their money's worth just opening the box!

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  8. How so very incredibly cool! Wow! Really :) That is so....neat :D
    And so your family knows you way better or at least as well as you would hope!
    Excellent thankful post.
    P.S. Did I mention how totally awesome your gifts are? :)

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    1. It really touched my heart that they knew me so well, and that they all came together to make it happen.

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  9. This is wonderful and exciting. What a kind and generous family, who loves you and knows you well. I'm imagining how with joy and excitement you are uncovering each layer of your gift. I'm sure your family is as excited as you are. The love and thought, the part of the gift that is not materialistic is the best part. So much more enjoyable than if you had done it yourself.

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    1. Exactly, Val. Had I ordered it, it would still be exciting to discover what was inside, but it could not compare with the joy I experienced this way.

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  10. That was an amazingly thoughtful gift! I read the Groucho Marx quote aloud to Hubby. He likes his humor.

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  11. As I fellow literary nerd I loved this post! I actually want to check this out. Very thoughtful gift which seems to combine the things you love...family, Paris and words. Stopping by from Mama Kat's!

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    1. They have a website and are on Instagram. The shop is bucket list worthy.

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  12. Wow, now THAT is a package! So beautiful!!

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Penny for your thoughts.