Today the signs are up.  Borders is getting closer and closer to opening up at the corner of Louisiana and St. Charles.  I wrote an entry about this back in June when the building was still more facade than anything, but now it’s starting to look like it’s actually going to open.  I never thought I’d be this excited about a big box store opening, especially given the chilling effect stores like this have on local businesses, and also on the range of materials in the marketplace available for reading.  But having to head to Metairie every time you need a book that isn’t carried at one of the fine local bookstores can make a girl miss the convenience of cities like my hometown, where the big box stores are everywhere.  But this got me thinking about convenience.  What is so difficult about waiting a few days for Octavia Books or Maple Street Bookshop to order a book I need?  I’ll wait for amazon to ship it to me, but for some reason I can’t wait for an independent bookstore to help me out?  That’s the thing with our brand of capitalism, though.  We demand relentless choices and immediate gratification and individual control in ways that aren’t good for anybody.  Today I was excited about Borders opening up, but am now thinking it’s time to go visit some of my local bookshops, even if I have to wait a few days for that book I’ve suddenly decided I need Right Now.  Or heck, I hear there’s a branch of the public library just up the street on St. Charles…