back in the saddle

Wow, a whole month without a post and what a whirlwind of a month it was! Vacation ended and school started along with my workload. Once I got the boss settled in class for the year, I than had two weeks to completely empty my store to prep for the remodel. After living with a dingy, sagging drop ceiling for nine years it finally began to fall and as promised my landlord ripped the whole ugly structure down and replaced with a nice new high plaster ceiling and a LOT of fluorescent lights. So many lights you could see my store from the moon. Emptying a store can be as hard as filling a space. After a few big sales my inventory was thankfully diminished and the last of it loaded on a giant truck to go to my flea market extravaganza. My garage stuffed full of my hoarding was also loaded onto the giant truck. Once my cohort and I arrived in the country it was more hauling of furniture, this time off the truck. Twenty-six feet packed full of vintage wares and than the rain started. Scurrying to get everything under the one assembled tent was challenging along with assembling the other large canopy. Being doused by another dealer's rain run off wasn't very enjoyable either. Five hours later the truck was empty, tents were up, and wine was opened with friends. Off to the motel, cheese and crackers for dinner and than up at the crack of dawn to start the next 3 days. Three days of buying, selling, wind and rain, airlifted tents, broken lamps, tying down hovering tent, and ninety degree heat. Now you wonder if it's such a pain in the ass, why do it? Because we have fun! Meeting new friends, making fun new contacts, afternoon cocktails with visiting friends, carny food, margaritas, lots of laughing and of course there is always dancing on Saturday night. Nothing like girlfriends having a good time. Well, after loading the truck back up with the remnants and new stuff on Sunday and heading back to Cleveland to empty and return truck, this chick was done. Exhausted. Three days of work, fun, and fattening food. I longed for my family and a home cooked meal. Since the store was still under construction I took advantage of the time and braved the waves of Lake Erie on my paddle board. By the fourth day the lake had calmed and I was able to take 2 blessed uninterrupted hours and clear my head. Once we got the go ahead it was back to the grind. My husband thankfully handled the mess left by the workers and I got to work painting furniture and Halloween window displays. More emptying of the garage, one day to set up and I was back open for business! Wow. Bleary eyed, I almost cried when it was all done, so relieved was I. Closing and opening a business all in 3 weeks is a Hell of a load and until you've moved all the merchandise and painted floors and walls and furniture and displays with a flea market 3 hours away thrown in for shits and  giggles and some fierce "surfing" for relaxation, oh and providing refreshments and taking care of a family, well it's just a lot. Fortunately I have a supportive husband and love my job because this little business is how I feed my family and take care of my bills. This 1000 square feet of vintage love that has become part of my soul and part of the community. A community that continues to support my "cause" and keep me in business. Time off is great, but boy is it nice to get back to normal and back in the saddle. Good night world.