The photos are haunting.

Looking forward to going to a cafe where people actually talk and don't hog public space for their own pleasure. I too hope you offer all organic soy, almond and rice milks for those of us who don't drink or like cow's milk.

Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Celestin, for all your hard work and delicious food. My husband and I were upset to hear that it's closing, and hurried over last weekend for some more of our favorite dishes. We love your gumbos and corn cakes in black bean sauce. Our son loves the chicken gumbo and jerk fries, and of course the mojitos were a perfect accompaniment to a warm summer evening. Enjoy your retirement, you've well and truly earned it. (Hint: could you write a recipe book in your spare time, based on Celestin's dishes?)

We will probably start seeing more of these kinds of things in the near future as our government and country slowly go into a death spiral themselves. It would be prudent to prepare ourselves and our loved ones mentally, emotionally, spiritually and materially for these events now.

You make some excellent points. Borders is getting its just desserts, although the people at the top automatically get to land with the help of golden parachutes while the worker bees don't have anything to cushion their fall. Sad. I have a Kindle which I only use when traveling or waiting for my kids' extracurricular activities to end. I prefer to have an actual book in my hands at other times. Nothing takes the place of the paper/hardback book in one's hands. Thanks for your thoughts--and a reminder: when you write a word in the plural, don't use an apostrophe:).