It's so important to Bill and I that everyone and anyone who visits our little shop or follows us on social media have a positive experience. We try to keep everything light because we want you to enjoy yourself, be entertained, and feel like we're all friends here. For that reason we didn't tell anyone what I'm going to tell you now, but stay with me because this story starts off a little rocky, but it has a happy ending.
As we approached the July first long weekend Bill and I noticed summer was slacking it. Sure the sun made an appearance here and there but the black flies arrived late then didn't want to leave, and the weather didn't want to cooperate.
It was dreadful and depressing.
On Friday July seventh as we walked our sign to the road we noticed a construction sign. Bill made a phone call to find out what was going on and was informed that the Haliburton County powers that be had decided, in their infinite wisdom, to schedule construction of Gelert road for two kilometres in either direction of our road during peak season.
That same morning a neighbour came into the store to tell us they were tearing up the road. That's right; we found out as it was happening; no advanced notice; no impact assessment. We were in it. Several neighbours asked if we were going to shut down during the construction that was scheduled to last three weeks. By July 28 they were tarring the road. The pylons are still on the road and it still looks like a construction zone.
We couldn't say what we were thinking because what we were saying to each other was not suitable for the public and not in keeping with the light, friendly atmosphere we so greatly try to maintain. Behind the scenes we were certain this was our last summer and it was the end of The Little Tart here in Haliburton. We stayed open and decided it was time for plan B.
What's plan B?
We didn't have a plan B.
Why didn't we have a plan B?
We've lived here for eleven years. We've been The Little Tart for nine years. We didn't think we needed one!
A few years back after Thanksgiving dinner, Bill and I were driving the cottage road when a baby fox ran out in front of the car. Bill slowed the car to a crawl and we watched the poor thing, illuminated by the headlights, as it frantically ran from side to side trying to decide which way to go. We must have followed the little critter a full five minutes watching it scamper back and forth until it finally made a decision.
Bill and I were that baby fox frantically trying to decide our next move.
And then the store door bell rang. We had a customer.
And then it rang again.
And then again.
They tore up the road and people kept coming. It was like driving on a sandy beach and people kept coming. It poured rain and the road turned to mud and people kept coming. And then they paved the road and cars were made to wait and still people kept coming.
We were, for lack of a better word, dumbstruck.
We hadn't taken into consideration our absolutely wonderful customers; we owe a great debt of gratitude to everyone who came throughout that mess and kept our doors open at a time when we thought without a doubt we were done. We look back on it every day since the road was paved and are in absolute awe. It's one of those times in our history we'll never forget;
"Remember when they tore up the road without notice and we thought we were going to lose everything?"
You guys never cease to amaze us and to humble us.
As summer progressed we started to notice the pace picking up. People were waiting out front for us to open; something we're used to on a Saturday, but not on a Monday or Tuesday. It was incredible and impossible at the same time. We tried so desperately to keep up and a couple of weeks ago The Little Tart felt like a locomotive speeding along the tracks, the breaks failed and there was a brick wall ahead.
I hit the wall.
Fatigue caught up with me. It could easily have been either one of us.
After a couple of days we were open again and the response was overwhelming.
And this is our happy ending…
Bill and I have had enough
life experiences to realize nothing in this life is a guarantee, but we are
already looking toward and forward to next year and for that we are so
grateful. Now, I may seem to have a flair for words, but there truly are none
to express how we feel about our customers and our social media followers; you
inspire us, you motivate us, you cheer us on.
We may own and operate The Little Tart, but you made the summer of 2017 an overwhelming success. We couldn't be more proud and feel so very privileged to be a part of something so special. From our hearts we thank you, my friends, for your kindness, your encouragement, and your overwhelming support. We treasure you.
And now it's time to slow things down, catch up on some sleep, housework, yard work, laundry, friends and family we haven't seen all summer, and of course pamper our pooch (That is not a euphemism! Mojo has been less than impressed with us for the past two months and we plan to spoil him with a lot of hugs, love and attention).
Beginning next weekend will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm. (We will be open the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend.) I will post the hours again during the week.
We hope you have a wonderful afternoon, a fabulous evening, and we'll look forward to seeing you in the store or here on social media again very soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment