I really love what I do most of the time. It is great to have a store like Country Roads. I opened it on January 2nd, 1993. And it has been a journey to get to where I am today. I was reading one of Brande's friends,
Sandy's blog, this morning. Sandy is a professor over at Cal State University Fullerton. She wrote a post titled "All Out of Love". Basically it is about how discouraging it is to teach with all the budget cuts going on in education system in the state of California. It touched me because I don't think any of us would have ever expected the depth of the economy mess. I hate to see the young people lose "hope" in todays world. Somehow it just doesn't seem fair. Maybe you could stop by her blog and leave a postive comment for her.
I love what I do, even in the toughest of times. I have the priviledge of walking in the door of Country Roads and seeing a new Halloween display my son has put together. And is working with your family easy? Of course not. Your expectations are higher, you argue with each other, but at the end of the day you lock the front door and try to leave the not so good memories of the day behind. You are reminded that you all just want the best for business even in this crazy time we are living in right now!
And you wake up fresh the next day, unlock the door and get scared shitless by the new Halloween display your son has put together! That's family. Country Roads is a great place if you haven't been to visit us. I'm not saying that because it is our family's business, but because I DO really like it. I get to work with such talented people, and that part of it is truly fabulous.
Then we have the "customers"! Our regular customers are the best, they really are. But then there are the others. And for any of you that work retail these days I know that you know what I'm talking about.
I had an unusually tough customer week-end. It was like an overdose on negativity, and I have no patience for negative people. I'm pretty use to what I hear out of the mouths of some people, but this week-end it was far more intense. I was told several times how hard it must be for me to have business so slow. I was actually amazed that I heard that more than once. Thankfully, Country Roads has been blessed and we stay busy and positive. No, business isn't like it was a few years back, but is anything in life that way these days? And what was even more interesting was that these customers were saying this to me on a day that we were really slammed, go figure? Little did I know, the best was yet to come. Yesterday this cocky guy walks up to the counter with a really cool, vintage gasoline sign. He lifts the sign up on the counter, points at the price tag of $425 and says one word, "half"? I politely said one word back to him with a smile, "no", and he walked away. I will never understand arrogance and rudeness even after all these years of working retail. It baffles me.
And as the day draws near an end, I walk by the Indian in the dental chair once more and I'm scared shitless one more time. I'm a slow learner. And then, Carol walks up to the counter with the above bunny head on "her" head and we all laugh. It reminds me of the real reason I love what I do. It's those precious moments my family, my dealers and all the great customers that put a smile on my face and warm my heart daily. And that is why I sincerely do love what I do!!
Halloween started early for our two princesses: Josalyn & Arianna. They were on their way to the Santa Ana Zoo that was holding a Halloween Party!
After a busy day at the store, it was time to "hit the streets" with my girls. After a quick dinner of Chinese takeout at Katie's house, myself, Katie, Justine, Riley & Morgan hit the streets of my old neighborhood to Trick or Treat! Vinnie was working, Brande was doing a concert fundraiser out by Palm Springs, and Bryce was up near San Francisco for the Alameda Flea Market today. It didn't seem quite the same without all of them.
Riley wanted to take a brief moment to pose with her Jack-O-Lanterns, her favorite being Wow Wow Wuzzy!
We took a moment to take a picture of Gramma's old kindergarten room at Patrick Henry Elementary School. Think they could afford some lights? Riley enjoyed herself this year, commenting on "how nice" people were that gave her candy. Morgan slept in her stroller the entire time, but there is always next year.
Riley didn't think the people were "nice" at this house, although it was pretty cool!The entire front yard was totally decorated.
After Riley's Halloween Pumpkin was full (although we found out at the end of the night she was dumping the candy in the bottom of Morgan's stroller to save). So, with another Halloween behind us, I add another page to that memory book of my heart. And always thankful to spend time with my family and "Gramma's Girls"!
