Have you ever looked at people, I am sure the answer is yes, but I mean really looked at people? Have you tried to enter their inner soul, imagining what they are thinking at that precise moment, both Mr. Bill and I, guilty on all counts. Our Fred's News' years afforded us this opportunity on a daily basis. We laugh,our children often calling it just plain nosey. In a sense, I admit to the charge, but we both find "what makes people tick", not only interesting but gratifying. Yes, the kids bought us a scanner one holiday season, I truly believe it to be payback for all the times we received calls concerning their whereabouts, but because of our great ability to listen to people, it was also an expectation of the public. Just call Fred's News, they are reliable, they will know. If not, maybe they will find out.
Our business survived for many reasons and although people may not of always agreed with our "politics", they trusted us. When "the brothers" decided to sell Fred's News, it was not a spur of the moment decision. Emil, knew his years in business had afforded him the same trust...he would choose wisely, passing "the torch" to the Egg-Nazi and I. In a sense, if "the brothers" approved, so did our patrons. Mr. Bill working over two years with Emil until, he felt "the time was right." As we moved towards our twenty year mark, we too felt it time to look. We had built a great reputation, none of our children wanted to carry on, our search began. Many came, not really interested, Mr. Bill called them "simply inquisitive." The day our decision was made, two very interested prospects visited Fred's News....one a young couple, how they wanted to raise their children and carry on in a small town where they hoped "life would be good." The second, a woman who'd been in "the business", many years. She envisioned changing lots of things, making it better, calling it her place. After long deliberations, we chose the young couple. Their sincere conversation, to make it their own, carrying on in the tradition of Fred's News, hoping to "help" the Town grow, caught our attention. We had been all about our Town, no one had ever mentioned that part before. Sadly, we chose wrong, something we think about daily. Yet another part of me says...."was it time?" Perhaps since our decision was incorrect, the situation remedied itself. Yet we both still feel an immense sense of guilt, maybe only time will heal that.
Thinking back to some of our former patrons, I wonder if they too carry a sense of guilt about decesions made in their lives..Some spoke of these decisions. "I gave up my child. I was much too young," "If only I had locked my front door, it would of never happened," "we never talked, I tried, . now nothing but regrets." Yet life continues, we "adjust", working our way through these times, the bonds of friendship and love, strong, knowing perhaps....."it was just time".
Our business survived for many reasons and although people may not of always agreed with our "politics", they trusted us. When "the brothers" decided to sell Fred's News, it was not a spur of the moment decision. Emil, knew his years in business had afforded him the same trust...he would choose wisely, passing "the torch" to the Egg-Nazi and I. In a sense, if "the brothers" approved, so did our patrons. Mr. Bill working over two years with Emil until, he felt "the time was right." As we moved towards our twenty year mark, we too felt it time to look. We had built a great reputation, none of our children wanted to carry on, our search began. Many came, not really interested, Mr. Bill called them "simply inquisitive." The day our decision was made, two very interested prospects visited Fred's News....one a young couple, how they wanted to raise their children and carry on in a small town where they hoped "life would be good." The second, a woman who'd been in "the business", many years. She envisioned changing lots of things, making it better, calling it her place. After long deliberations, we chose the young couple. Their sincere conversation, to make it their own, carrying on in the tradition of Fred's News, hoping to "help" the Town grow, caught our attention. We had been all about our Town, no one had ever mentioned that part before. Sadly, we chose wrong, something we think about daily. Yet another part of me says...."was it time?" Perhaps since our decision was incorrect, the situation remedied itself. Yet we both still feel an immense sense of guilt, maybe only time will heal that.
Thinking back to some of our former patrons, I wonder if they too carry a sense of guilt about decesions made in their lives..Some spoke of these decisions. "I gave up my child. I was much too young," "If only I had locked my front door, it would of never happened," "we never talked, I tried, . now nothing but regrets." Yet life continues, we "adjust", working our way through these times, the bonds of friendship and love, strong, knowing perhaps....."it was just time".
Diane, it was not your fault that the new owners had no sense of "Family" for the village of Baltic, or the town of Sprague. They had their chance and I highly doubt if they did reopen it that they would be able to make a go of it becuase they are no longer trusted :-( It will take someone from Baltic to make it work again, and hopefully someone from town will take that leap of faith in the not too distant future! I Am aobut to hit that wonderful age of retirement myself so for Deb and I to make that move would be foolish, but hopefully someone in their late 20's early 30's will feel the need and understand that they will be supported fully by everyone here in town if they do, but only if they are locals and have the good sense to run it in a fashiion similar to they way you and Bill did. It needs to be opened every day with a smile,and closed each night with a sigh, knowing it was a day well done, and that you made an impact on someone that day no matter how small that impact was! This town almost completely died in 1955 when the Baltic Damn exploded into little pieces flooding much of the area downstream of the damn. I was sitting in the back of my uncles pickup when the dam let go, and I still remember seeing those huge logs fly into the air like toothpicks! Many of the "Old Guard" is now gone from Baltic,but the spirit lives on in many of us who are still here :-)
ReplyDeleteWE can only hope that Fred's News will reopen soon and that whoever take that leap of faith will do so very soon.
Wil & Deb Chabotte
Thanks Will, retirement age...OMG! I do love Baltic, it was good to us and our family. Hope someone feels that some day!
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