Inspired by Natalee H.

Natalee asked what I'd do if I had the time before I had kids. I gave her a load of stuff that came into my head immediately. Since then, I've mulled it over. I'd still do the stuff I gave her (school, copy editor, trilingual, travel), but here are a couple of the things I would love to do sans kids. They are all careers. I think that is because I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up other than a mom. I am so glad I was blessed with my top choice. Here are the careers I've come up now:

1. I already told Natalee this one, and I'm sticking to it. I'd write a book. I don't know what it would be about, and I never have plot ideas, and I am not interested in the business side of it (except being a best-seller). I do have one idea. Start a new trend: Mommy Lit. Like chick lit, but geared toward moms. Not full of single women dating and whatnot. You get it. Would sell like hotcakes. From a box.

2. is related to #1. I'd own and operate a book shop. Actually, right out here in the bustling new townlet of Pecan Grover/Waterside. (For my distant friends, those are adjacent subdivisions that suddenly have businesses and eating establishments popping up. But cute.) I think I would specialize in Children's, Juvenile, and Young Adult books. I would be the wizard of books and know them all so I can direct people.

• It would be organized in two different areas. One by age (ordered by author), and one by subject. You know - Mysteries, Series, Easy-Readers, etc. So the same books would be shelved in two different areas. It would be much easier, like internet shopping!
  
• It would have, "If you liked 'book title here,' you might enjoy..." posters up.
  
• It would have instant-readers. That means a few people on hand during rush hours - because rush hours would exist for such a phenomenol, break-out store - who would read out the books kids bring to them right then. I could do it during the off-hours. Actually, only snippets of books. Gotta up the sales.
  
• Hey, I could have kid-recommended walls! (Kids don't care about adult-recommends.) Those could be chosen by survey and/or sales numbers.
  
• It would have the school summer reading list books together so you don't have to search all over for each one.
  
• NO COMPUTERS. It's a bookstore. And no food. Respect the books, people.
  
• It would have benches between the aisles so you can sit down while you peruse the books and sneak a peak inside. No reading areas like Barnes & Noble. Because I don't want teen studiers or maker-outers, and kids just romp on those. Although, obviously, there would be a little area like in B&N where the kids can listen to the instant-readers.
  
• There would be Caldecott, Newberry, and Bluebonnet shelves. This store is INCREDIBLE.
  
• (Did I neglect to say reasonable prices?)
  

NatH., keep my books for me! The financial kind. Oh, what a grand store! I think it would have to be 2 stories to make room for all the walls. Older kids' stuff upstairs. Just so you know, I've just written all this as a giant paragraph, but I'm looking over it and will now change it to a bulleted list. I do not know what I would call this place. I'll think of something awesome and memorable. Oh, sales! The summer reading each summer. I hate it when stores jack up the prices just when you need things the most. New Caldecott, Newberry, and Bluebonnet when the lists come out.

3. Game store. Not electronic games (even though I love computer games). Card, board, fantasy, puzzle games, who-dun-its, family, kid, dice... I would love a way to try out the game first. Instant-players instead of readers who can play a portion of the game with you. Awesome. Details basically the same as above.

IF ANYONE STEALS THESE IDEAS, BIG BIG TROUBLE! AND I'M TALKING TO YOU ANONYMOUS READERS, TOO!

I respect the fact that I can start these projects when my kids leave home, and I just may do that. Of course, I'd have to serve a mission in there, too. A story for another day.