As much as I love doing research and crafting paragraphs while agonizing over word choice, one of the coolest things about this job is getting out of the office. On Friday I took a break from immersing myself in research on U.S. honeymoon destinations and headed to Emmaus to interview local business owners for a Life in the Valley write-up. Ashish and Nisha Rai, the mother and son team behind the new Impulse Boutique on Main Street, were so friendly and gracious I didn’t feel like I was working at all. It’s one of my favorite things to meet people in the Valley who are taking a risk to contribute to their community—and who have exceptional taste in accessories!
Even less arduous was perusing their dramatically-lit and spectacular range of jewelry, hats and scarves. I admit to being fashion-challenged, oblivious to trends and generally shabby, but the stuff in this boutique inspired even me. If I was a girl of means, I wouldn’t have left that shop empty-handed. Right now I would be wearing a strange and beautiful watch with a captivating clock face, and I would be gazing at it admiringly not getting anything done.
Another exciting thing that happened last week was finding a parcel on my desk addressed to little old me. Sometimes I feel like I’m just pretending to be an adult and at any moment I’ll be found out. But who isn’t excited by parcels? I’d hate to reach that level of cynicism. Inside was a press copy of a book we will include in the December issue. Without giving too much away I can say that this is a visually appealing book that inspired me—much like Impulse Boutique’s jewelry—to feel new appreciation for something I hadn’t thought much about.
As you can see, this work is opening up new horizons to me every day. I’m ready for the next adventure!
