Joy “Ligaya” Mislang in her store JLM Used & Rare Bookstore in downtown Cambria.
Story and Photos by Kathleen Stout
Searching for gems is akin to a treasure hunt of sorts. It takes enthusiasm to understand the signs in the landscape that will uncover the stone. One of your best tools is keen sight — keeping an eye out for that tell -tale sparkle.
Many a tale’s been told, however, of the lucky miner who’s happened upon a brilliant piece that just popped right out in front of them, seemingly out of the corner of their eye.
Such was the case with my first “Local Gem” Joy “Ligaya” Mislang, owner of the JLM Used & Rare Bookstore in downtown Cambria, right in the heart of town. The first time I walked into her shop and met her, I had my own kind of eureka moment as I soon found she had a heart of gold.
The rarest finds, remember, can be found in such a manner.
JLM Used & Rare Bookstore is located at 852 Main St. Cambria.
Owner and operator of her quaint little bookstore for 29 years, Joy is still showing up each day of the week, sharing her kindness (and a snack if she likes you) with her customers. Originally the shop started as a family venture with Joy’s daughter and husband; all three working at Hearst Castle and trading off shifts at the bookstore
The shop is larger than it appears and seems to have endless nooks and side-rooms. Hallway after hallway is lined with books, each one like a time capsule of sacred discoveries and ageless lore. A kind of tucked away Narnia for bookish types that pops out right in front of you- if you look close enough.
It doesn’t take long to notice Joy has a presence.
Books abound in nooks and side-rooms throughout the store.
At 88 years young it’s hard not to ask, “what’s your secret?” So, I do -and I find the conversation continues and I just want to listen, past the point of writing down the answers.
“I love talking to people, whether they buy anything or not. We talk and share our stories, our families, “ Joy said.
Born in Bani, Phillipines in the countryside, Joy lived a life close to the land. As a child she would take breaks from the schoolhouse to skip down to the water to catch her lunch, only to return to class when she was finished with her meal.
“We never wore shoes, “ she reminisces. She shares more stories about chasing chickens with her schoolmates to catch the first warm egg-and eat it raw. As close to the land as it gets.
Walking sometimes 15 miles to get water, Joy learned to overcome her shyness by talking with her friends and neighbors to pass the time. It was a facet of her personality that paid off.
“After I opened my shop, I realized I love talking to people, sometimes too much”. Her face shines. “Sometimes my customers have to stop me”.
I find out about more about the Phillipines: the geography, the people, the language.
“We had over 20 dialects between the villages, and it led to a lot of neighborly squabbles. We chuckled, obviously it was a communication breakdown. With age comes wisdom. Eventually that led to the adoption of English and Tagalo as a national language”.
Joy is trilingual and speaks Spanish and has many Spanish speaking friends in the community, many who have become like family.
“They were happy to hear when I spoke Spanish. I made many friends,” she sparkles. I have a feeling Joy speaks a universal language.
I’m having one of those rare moments when you feel as if you’ve found a new friend. She is, after all, a purveyor of stories. What’s not to love? Indeed, I have found a jewel.
I realize how precious our elders are in the cosmic calendar of life. Their stories are like diamonds — in their shared experiences there are glimmers of forever. Precious old adages reveal eternal proverbs of truth.
I ask what she would tell young people nowadays.
She points upwards. “ And eat your vegetables and rice”.
Customers come in and she is on her feet, shuffling and sorting, finding a selection of books for the curious readers. With over 10,000 books inside, there is something for everyone.
We talk about books and the value of reading as personal discovery.
“It increases your knowledge. When I read it is like I am the character — sometimes exciting, sometimes fascinating, sometimes scary”.
It’s like another world, I agree.
“ God gave us this imagination” she continues.
Another customer comes in and she’s nose deep in the stacks.
“ I know where every book is, unless it’s been moved. I walk around and check to see if anything is out of place”.
A proper bookworm could only wish to have such problems.
A lot like life. We try to keep it organized, but things get out of place, it can get messy. Stories can teach us how to overcome that, how others before us overcame when things were ‘ out of place’.
At almost ninety years of age I notice, one of Joy’ s secrets is she just keeps putting it in order.
Soon, as early as next year and culminating in her 30th anniversary in business, the bookstore will eventually close and be replaced with another. Until then, all are welcome to step inside and discover the gem that is Joy’s bookstore at 852 Main St. Cambria.
By taking the time and developing the keen sight to notice the very jewels that course through our communities, often uncovered just beneath the surface of our daily lives- we may just discover personal treasures.
Kathleen Stout is a local artist who counts her blessings daily. When not writing, painting, or helping others, She Sells Seashells on the side.
