I love the smell of sunscreen and sweat. There’s something about human smells mixed with the chemical coconut smell that makes me happy. Maybe it’s the familiarity of the smells, like a doorway into simpler childhood times. Saturday, at the Flagstaff Earth Day Festival, we had sunscreen and sweat in abundance. There was also a familiar sight to go along with the olfactory memories, the return of the Flagstaff Trade Counter. It didn’t look exactly the same, but standing on one side going through boxes, bags and handing out trade was great. We got to open a new pack of deal cards, the first we’ve used since the roof collapse, and tell people “Give us about 15 to 20 minutes to go thru this.” Everything was so familiar, like when you camp out. You’re still cooking, but outside. It was camping, Bookmans Style.

We could not have planned a better day. It was warm, breezy and beautiful. As soon as we got to the site we had people bringing us stuff, even though the event wasn’t do to start for another hour! We were “open” from 11:30 to 4 and we did 68 deals in that time. That works out to one deal every 4 minutes! During the first hour it was clear that the two eight foot tables we had set up as our make shift Trade Counter, were not big enough. We added a six foot table, and then another. 30 feet of Trade Counter, outside without electricity. All of the deals were carried in by loyal Bookmans customers. Being the Earth Day Festival, there were many who brought their items on bikes. Parking was tight and some had quite a haul! We purchased 42 boxes of inventory from the community and hauled away half that again for recycling and donations.

Among the familiar sights and smells, we also got to see some of our regulars. Some had stuff to trade, some just wanted to chat. We got to see old friends from Bookmans past. Those former employees that haunted the store and will now hopefully haunt our Buying and Selling Events. I have to admit it was more relaxed than our traditional Trade Counter. There was no “shift change”, no MOD and there were chairs in the shade. We had coffee in the morning from Pay N’ Take (it was really good) and tacos from The Black Bean for lunch (also very good) all enjoyed at the Trade Counter, a big no-no at the store. Again, like camping only without the BBQ and beer. (I guess we’ll just have to suffer.) Adding to the “camping” vibe we had two other sites set up at the Festival, one for kids with tote bag decorating and one with information and free Bookmans stuff. Through out the day we would take turns hiking over to the other areas with water and other supplies, like sunscreen.

Even with the sunscreen, we all got a bit of sun. Most of us noticed it while we were hauling our “new” inventory to the rented U-Haul. Strips of sun seared flesh would make contact with a box sending pain messages to the brain. Mine made me happy. I also enjoyed breaking out the Aloe Vera when I got home. By the end, we were all pretty exhausted. Like camping, running a Trade Counter outside takes a bit more effort. Also like camping, the exhaustion feels good. There was a familiar lament as well, “We miss Bookmans! When will you be back?” At first we gave our, by now, familiar response, “We miss it too! We hope to reopen this fall.” Officially, that’s true; however, after we had cleared a deal or two, we started to answer, “May 1st in the parking lot of the Chamber of Commerce.” We are buying AND selling at the Chamber of Commerce, so really, we’re back in two weeks! HA! While it may not be a store in the strictest sense of the word, it feels like one.

In the planning phases of this venture, I was worried. Would this work? Do we have everything? What if no one shows up? What if too many people show up? What if we run out of checks? Is this too weird? Pepe and Matt set up the first deal and all the fears, worries, problems melted away. I feel lost and slightly uncomfortable in the warehouse, it’s just not right. But Saturday, I heard, and then saw the store reform around us. Perhaps the sun was getting to me, perhaps I was absorbing too much sunscreen through my skin, but I really saw our store. As much as we take comfort in the four walls and a roof, in the ease of the computers and the rigidity of permanent fixtures, they are not what make Bookmans, Bookmans. It’s the product and the attachment that people have to it because used product has history. It’s the people who bring us things and the cathartic release it brings to them when they let their history go. Most of all it’s the people who work with me; those unique individuals who bring their own history, knowledge and style to the experience. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait for the building to be rebuilt, but the store is open for business every weekend in May.