Get Ready! I Have a Few Thoughts I Want To Share

I want to say Happy Anniversary to Sweet Tooth Candy & Gift Co.

YES.  September 1, 1992 Shirley and Willie Burger and our friend Richard Borg went with Jeff and me to Sweet Tooth in The Farm Shopping Center to sign the papers purchasing Sweet Tooth.  Along with us were my parents, who seemed pretty fascinated by their daughters going into retail without any past experience in that business.

My parents aren't with me any more.  However I want to say that they never complained about our choice and always supported what we were doing.  Occasionally we had to ask for a little help and they gave it willingly and without hesitation. 

Some may remember my Dad who often came to the store to chat with customers, to see what we were up to and to always buy some chocolate bars which he gave to the staff at Zarrow Point where my Mom lived for 7 years.

Eventually we bought a bench for him to sit on.  The year we opened a small shop by the Food Court in Woodland Hills, Dad could be found sitting on the bench across from our shop, watching folks walking by.  When he was ready to go home, he would sometimes forget where he had parked.  Dad always made it home, though!!

October is the month I most remember my parents and how much I do miss them.

Our daughter Sabrina has been with us every step of the way.  Even when she didn't live near, she was still the Voice of our t.v. ads, recording those CDs in New Jersey, Tennessee and at OSU.  Sabrina is the best daughter ever...o.k. I know most parents think that of their children...but my One and Only is still the most precious, wise person whom I know.

October is also the month when we really dig in and prepare for the 4th Quarter, that time of year when retailers get very busy, have lots of merchandise, plan events for their stores and look forward to the shoppers who still shop locally and value the customer service they receive in a physical store.

26 years of meeting, greeting, helping, admiring, talking to people and feeling really good about all the contacts and friends we have made over the years.  Even some folks who I actually never met in person:  Kristen at Kristofer's and her mom, Connie; Michelle and others at Kameleon; people answering questions on the phone when I called their business.  If I had stayed in the profession I started out to do, teaching English, I would have loved all my students but I would never have made all the friends I have made at Sweet Tooth.

So Happy Anniversary to all of us...those who are gone and those who are here with us now.  See you at "The Tooth" as our friend John Klein calls us.