WTN: A sad end to 2009

Today was my last day at the bookshop. And I am quite sad to leave it. I started working there in 1998 while still in middle-school (what a geek I was/am). I continued doing the odd hours through high-school. Not long after going to university, the owner retired and I started running the shop with one of the share holders, doing c.25-30 hours a week (no wonder I still haven't finished my MA ).

As of tomorrow, the shop has new owners and no need of me. But I was happy to see a huge number of regulars coming by the shop today to say farewell. Considering how much praise our customers heaped upon me today, I am almost tempted to open up my own bookshop, though in the current climate that would be suicide.

After such a sad day, the now ex-staff opened up a few bottles while doing the end of year inventory:

Jackson Estate Pinot Noir Vintage Widow 2008
14% abv; 19,60€. Quite a dark color for PN with even a bit of purplosity. Dark and sweet fruit but it is still obviously a PN, certainly not a caricature of the grape. There seems to be quite a bit of chocolatey oak, too, but gladly it is rather the wine that shines through. Sweet fruit, quite tame in structure. Moderately long finish but with a touch of heat. This lacks the ethereal brightness I hope to see in PN and is a rather too obvious in its charms, but I can still understand why it is so popular. I won't buy it, but I won't spit it out in anger either.


Penfold's Kalimna Bin 28 Shiraz 2006
22,80€; 13,5% abv. This smelled really weird. It's not long since I had the 2005 which seemed like a pretty normal S. Aus. Shiraz. The aromas of this wine promised bitterness. The closest sensation I can imagine is the skins of peanuts, or maybe chili pepper. Gladly it doesn't seem as jammy as many S. Australians, nor does it have such strong aromas of dried fruit. Full bodied, tarry, darkly fruity, and more refreshing and interesting on the palate than I would have guessed from the scent and gladly lacking the unpleasant bitterness that I expected from the scent. Strange scent; attractive palate for S. Aus. I don't know what to think.

Maybe today just was not a day that was conducive to wine enjoyment.

[David M. Bueker]

I hope 2010 turns out better for you Otto.

Otto,

Wherever you go and wherever life take you, know that there are a great many people rooting for you!!! You're one of the good people!!!!

Very best
Rogov

Yes, I hope that 2010 will only be better for you. As you drink even better wine!

(And here I was worried that you would be referencing the Espoo shooting! Tough stuff).

(And here I was worried that you would be referencing the Espoo shooting! Tough stuff).

I feel a bit silly posting about losing a job after that sort of tragedy - but I only just read the news (having gone to do the inventory well before the shooting happened).

Otto,
sorry that an important chapter in your life has ended, but I'm sure that you will thrive in whatever you do next. Sorry the wines didn't show better.

A door closes, a door opens, Otto. Best of luck to you.

A door closes, a door opens, Otto. Best of luck to you.

Amen! A dear, wise friend once said (sang): "try to believe that the sweetest hello always comes after the hardest goodbye."

Keep your heart open!

Otto, I wish you all the best of luck to make 2010 a happy year for you.

Why not kick-start it by coming to the chat on Sunday. You would give us all a happy surprise!

Cheers,
Anders

[Robin Garr]

Best wishes to you for a happy and prosperous 2010, Otto! And Happy New Year to all our forum pals.

I had no idea you were so young, your notes sound so, well, mature. You have your whole life ahead of you! Without meaning to make light of the sadness of the moment, or sound like an old fogey, I hope you will soon look back on changes like this as providential.

[Jenise]

Oh gee, Otto. I'm so sorry for your sadness--changes can be tough, and this one's the breakup of a family. Always the hardest. But re the wines, I don't think you need to blame the situation for the Kalimna. That wine was being blown out by a local distributor for $9.99 last week and that caused me to look up recent notes on it and I found reactions all over the map. Most found it on the different side just like you did.

[James Roscoe]

Otto, best wishes for a better 2010! Happy New Year to you!

Otto, I am so sorry for your loss. You have so many gifts to offer, such diverse interests, I know you will land on your feet somewhere. 2010 will be a year of change for you; I wish you all the best.

Take care, Sweets..
Cheers!
JuliaB

Otto,

I too was a young man once that worked for an independent book store that closed. A big Barnes & Noble opened across the street and that drove us out of business.

But keep your chin up. All of those customers that loved your good nature and excellent advice will be the first to frequent your own store when you own it one day. If you keep faith in yourself and faith in your dreams, you will eventually have your own store that will certainly do well.

Otto, I don't know your tastes in literature, but I do know and respect greatly your palate. Open a wine shop. At least if there are hard times, you can consume the inventory.

Hoping we cross paths one day...

If you keep faith in yourself and faith in your dreams, you will eventually have your own store that will certainly do well.

It is an over-saturated market, so that is very doubtful. Time to figure out something unbookish for a change.

Best wishes, Otto, for a better job and a more prosperous 2010!

It is an over-saturated market, so that is very doubtful. Time to figure out something unbookish for a change.

Otto, Hi.....

Keep in mind that that was the same advice that was given to Sylvia Beach when she opened Shakespeare & Co in Paris in 1919. They (whomever they may have been) were wrong.

I'm not at all a business-oriented person but I cannot help but think that if one truly loves books and other people who love books and finds the right niche and approach that a fine small bookshop can show remarkable satisfaction and success. Holly Golightly, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Madame Maigret, Jacques Derrida and Anna Deslions are most assuredly not dead.

Best
Rogov*

*Who is quite certain that the cracks in the walls of my building are due to the massive weight of the collection of books that I horde with no embarassment whatever.

Best wishes on what lies ahead, Otto, and go with confidence. When the people you've served make it a point to come back and thank you for what you've done, it's clear you have the personality and drive to do well in any number of positions.

And just to be sure you're subjected to this, I'll give you the same cliched but true story you tend to hear in such situations. Ten years ago to the month, I was fired from a job with a company I'd been with for fifteen years. I was saddened and pretty angry and the next job I got was at a significantly lower salary. It also turned into the best job I can imagine having. Being fired was truly one of the best things that ever happened to me.

If you keep faith in yourself and faith in your dreams, you will eventually have your own store that will certainly do well.

It is an over-saturated market, so that is very doubtful. Time to figure out something unbookish for a change.

You are right. It is indeed an over-saturated market. Over-saturated with brain dead teenagers selling NYT best sellers in places like Barnes & Noble. But in the end, the people that have come to trust your advice and value your guidance will frequent an indie store you open one day.

Don't get down on yourself. Figure out how to beat them with better customer service and better recommendations.

Best of luck, Otto.