Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Everything

If you walk around a relatively unfamiliar place long enough and do your best to let go, you'll inevitably stumble upon something that feels meant for you.

In Inglewood I found a store that only says "books" on the outside, but it should say, "everything".

When I stepped inside and said "Whoa" out loud, the store owner laughed. He didn't want me to take pictures, which saved me from my own self-distraction.

I spent hours admiring used books, records, things, vintage jewelry, bootleg conspiracy dvd's, deadstock greeting cards...

My first annoying instinct was to keep it to myself, but then thought if someone else I knew could experience their own version of walking in there for the first time - then the risk of it being overrun by people who like things is worth it.

Some of my favorite purchases included a photography book of the Soviet Union, a Tibetan beaded belt, and little log cabin.

When the owner, Tsering, helped me to my car, he smiled as a woman in front of us wearing a head to toe black fringe outfit swayed her hips as she sipped from a big gulp. The fringe was so long, the lower pieces dragged on the ground.

"Nice outfit" he said genuinely.

She turned around, not the least bit suspicious and smiled saying, "thank you."

"And you clean the streets at the same time" he added.

Luckily she thought this was hysterical also.