My biggest lament is
the fact that there are no book stores in the North Hills area of Pittsburgh. I miss the old
Borders Bookstore that used to be located at the Northway Mall. Borders was my daily
fix, where I used to go and write in their Café, while drinking coffee and
munching on one of their pastries. After hours of writing, I would end up
picking out a few books and magazines, pay, and leave the store. This was
basically what I did during most of the week.
Now, I go to the
library to work but it just isn’t the same experience for me. I don’t feel
inspired or creative there. I usually get drowsy and have a hard time staying
awake. My writing drive isn’t there.
I can drive up to
Barnes & Noble in Cranberry, which I do at least every other week and write but
it isn’t the same. It might take 20 minutes or so, depending on the traffic. It
isn’t like the five minute drive that I had to Borders.
So, I have been going
to the old Panera’s on McKnight Road to write. Despite the fact that they took
out their televisions and that they no longer have WiFi – I somehow manage to
write. Maybe it’s the hum of talking or the pleasant aromas of food. But
Panera’s has become my Muse.
I still miss the old
bookstore but at least I have a place to write, drink coffee, and munch on some
food.
