Along with the major changes that have occurred with my new job change, an even greater change has been at the centre of our family. As of June 1st, my mother retired from her career as a florist and closed the flower shop we have owned for the past 18 years. Along with this change came my sister's choice to return to school to pursue her career as a lawyer; a dream she put on hold 18 years ago to be an outstanding floral designer.
My mother was absolutely ready for retirement, and the choice to close the shop rather than sell it came down to pure emotion. We were not willing to sell a family name. We had a three week long sale and cleared out a vast amount of inventory. What was left over was moved to my father's garage for a giant garage sale. Simple idea, right? Not quite.
Our family is not very well versed in the art of garage sales, so preparing for the event took weeks. When all was said and done, each and every item was priced, packaged and displayed. After three separate weeks of sales, almost all of our leftover items were sold. It was an exercise in patience and tenacity, but it was well worth it.
So what's next? Well, as fall approaches we cannot wait to enjoy our first holiday together; a celebration that will not be contingent on other people's needs or schedules.
Though the future brings change for all of us, I cannot wait to see what is in store for the future!
