What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?

When I was in school I had teachers pose this question often. As I teacher myself I probably asked the same question to my students. I am almost grown up and my main profession for over thirty years was teaching. 

When I was a child I wanted to be a nurse. I had the book pictured above and Mom would read it me and I would study all the pictures before I could read. I don't know when I decided I didn't want to be a nurse. Maybe someone got sick and I gagged or I saw blood after a household accident and realized I couldn't stomach it. 

By the end of high school I wanted to be a high school teacher. After taking an education class that required working with kindergarten students, I changed my mind. I got a degree in Elementary Education.

Recently someone asked, "If you could have done any other profession, what would it have been?"

Because of my love for books I always wanted to work in a bookstore. Being surrounded by books and people that love books seemed like a dream job. I also dreamed of owning a bookstore. I pictured a cute little shop with a cafe that served coffee drinks, homemade cookies, and other delicious pastries. It would be full of new and used books, comfy chairs, plants, a resident dog or cat, and soft music playing in the background. Now I just visit favorite bookstores, sip coffee and eat a homemade cookie.

My love of books also led me to wanting to be a librarian. I spent many hours in the library growing up and I loved the quiet surroundings, the unlimited amount of books to read, and the kind librarians. I was able to fulfill this dream when I returned to my hometown after retirement. I worked part time in the same library where I enjoyed books in childhood. For personal reasons I had to give the job up, but I sure loved it.

I also wanted to work in a florist shop. I love to grow flowers and arrange them in bouquets.Being surrounded by flowers and bringing joy to customers with my arrangements was another dream job. Along this same vein, I would be in seventh heaven if  I could work in a plant nursery. It would be so fun to help gardeners pick plants and answer gardening questions. 

What I want to be when I grow up?

I want to own a bookstore with a cafe, a corner full of flowers to arrange for customers, a resident dog, a plant nursery out back, and a writing corner for me to get all my thoughts down each day while sipping a latte and eating a homemade cookie. I would beam as each customer would leave with a bag of books, a bouquet of flowers, some plants for their garden, and a pastry for later. Now that is amazing dream! 

If you could choose another profession, what would it be?

This is Alabama Booksmith bookstore in Homeword, Alabama.