My Gen X Playlist: Coming Home, Part II – Skylar Grey

I was in Pasadena the other day. When I drove down familiar streets, it felt like home. I lived in Pasadena for over 10 years and it was nice to set foot back in the city.

I had some time to kill so I went to Vroman’s, my favorite book store. This is a block away from where I used to live. It wasn’t uncommon to find me here between the bookshelves or having coffee inside. Vroman’s has been in Pasadena for over 130 years and is California’s largest and oldest independent bookstore.

Vroman’s Bookstore was founded in 1894 by Adam Clark Vroman. Born in 1856 in La Salle, Illinois, Mr. Vroman moved to Pasadena, California in the late 1800s hoping the weather would improve his wife Esther’s health. Sadly, Esther died two years later, and the brokenhearted Mr. Vroman sold his beloved book collection to raise the capital to open a bookstore.

Mr. Vroman loved books and loved giving back to his community. He helped to rescue some of the old Franciscan missions from decay, helped establish the Southwest Museum (now part of the Autry Museum), and he was a great supporter of the Pasadena Public Library. There’s even a story of him loaning money to a competitor, and helping him establish credit with vendors, so that the man could start his own bookstore.

When Mr. Vroman died in 1916, he left the bookstore to longtime employees, one of whom was the great grandfather of the current owner.

Vroman’s

I used to spend a lot of time in the travel section. For a long time, I was only reading travel literature. I enjoyed reading about people’s adventures in far off lands. In a way, this was an escape for me, from my workaholic life. It was therapeutic to read about others who threw caution to the wind and went out into the world. Adventure, finding oneself or a personal journey to find healing, I was right there with them with each turn of the page. These stories saved me more than once.

It’s a shame that independent bookstores are slowly dying out. To some, they can be a bit of a sanctuary. I like the warm feeling of a bookstore. Always welcoming. Never a stranger. I’m not sure many places can replicate this feeling.

I’m happy to report Vroman’s is still standing strong. They now have a wine bar and a coffee house, whichever fits your flavor. We don’t have anything like this in the suburbs where I live now. It was a treat to return. It felt like home.

Skylar Grey’s Coming Home, Part II is looping in my head right now. I’m not complaining, though. If you have to have an ear worm, this is not a bad one to have.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

And the blood will dry, underneath my nails
And the wind will rise up, to fill my sails

See you can doubt, and you can hate
But I know, no matter what it takes

I'm coming home
I'm coming home
Tell the world I'm coming home
Let the rain wash away, all the pain of yesterday
I know my kingdom awaits and they've forgiven my mistakes
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
Tell the world I'm coming

Still far away, from where I belong
But it's always darkest before the dawn

See you can doubt, and you can hate
But I know, no matter what it takes

I'm coming home
I'm coming home
Tell the world I'm coming home
Let the rain wash away, all the pain of yesterday
I know my kingdom awaits and they've forgiven my mistakes
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
Tell the world I'm coming

I'm coming home
I'm coming home
Tell the world I'm coming home
Let the rain wash away, all the pain of yesterday
I know my kingdom awaits and they've forgiven my mistakes
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
Tell the world I'm coming
Home