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Monday, October 19, 2015

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - WESTERN HILLS FAMILY REUNION

When we said, Goodbye and they locked the doors to our store, this blog published it's final post.  It was time.  The emotions of the day, the pictures, farewells and just the fact that the doors were closed forever was enough to bring this to an end.  But as in movies, there are sequels - so with this blog comes another edition.

You see before the doors were locked, three ladies decided to plan a Reunion.  They made the arrangements, went about  planning and investing the time it took to bring it all together.  This would be a time where the past and present would, maybe for the final time, get a chance to come together.

And so today was the day that we came, ate, reviewed old pictures and  tried to recall the names of these faces from twenty years ago.  There was plenty of memorabilia; shirts, aprons, and a questionnaire as to facts of when the store first opened, stories from the past as well as a photo album to show us the moments that were never forgotten.   It was all there.

But along with a traditional reunion was the surprise of a retirement party for me.  Complete with cake, a bouquet of balloons, a flashy pin - all spelling out, Happy Retirement.  And one of my favorites were the little crafty, paper flower pots that read; Biggs Best Ever Flower Girl - they now sit on my desk.  And if that were not enough, I was given a gift that will remind me every day of where I have spent the last thirteen years - a collage of us.  Hanging on the wall of my Study is a large collage that Sandy had put together to remind us all of where we had come from - Biggs Western Hills - and hung it in the Break Room for all to see.  All the smiling faces, through the years, brought together in this large, well placed collage.  This undoubtedly is one of my treasured  keepsakes.

Amidst all the laughing, talking, eating and reminiscing this group had already started talking about when we would get together again.

This reunion was special and my retirement party was more than I could have ever imagined - how lucky was I.  And to spend these events, with these people, was the best part.

We have been together so long and along the way our lives have intertwined.  And although one might consider this just simply as human emotions, it is, however, one of life's highlights. For when you are lucky to have people stay close to you, go out of their way for you and call you friend well, that's a gift.

As everyone started to say goodbye and began to pack up and head for home, the Reunion had come to an end.

But, of course, it is not over, although this blog is, for in a few months we will meet again.  We will laugh, eat and possibly reminisce but more importantly we will be moving on, together.

We may have closed down a store, but it was just a building.  What's important is that we have remained together and will celebrate that throughout the years to come. 

I guess they are right when they say, 'We are family.'

                                             BIGGS WESTERN HILLS
See ya! 

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - GOODBYE!

As the doors of Western Hills close, for the final time, this blog comes to an end. 

When I started this blog it was done with the intention of writing about this grocery store.  A store that was like no other.  It was the people that made the difference.  They gave it a personality all it's own. They were a family.

We have spent the last week bracing ourselves for this, the final day.  The tears have been shed, the hugs have been endless and the phrase, 'I'm going to miss you guys,' has been repeated countless times.  And yet, we still were not prepared.

There will be many pictures posted on FB to show what it was like and how we partied at the end.  And though these pictures will not show the feelings that we have at this moment the pictures will, however, portray the genuine personality of this group.

Over the last four years, this blog has said everything there is to say and I sit here and can find nothing else to add.  Well, maybe there is one more thing;

To all you Western Hills employees, past and present


                                      GREAT JOB EVERYBODY!


And a special note to all the Biggs Western Hills employees - you are legend

Goodbye

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - 'SEE YA TOMORROW?'

I would think that each day, as I get ready to go to work, I would get that dreaded feeling.  But, that has not been the case.  In a way, I have been eager to get to the store.  Walking in and hearing those familiar voices greet me, the chit-chat that we all seem to share and just knowing that those familiar faces will be here. The same thing day in and day out. All the things that I have always looked forward to throughout these years.

Circulating on FB is a picture of so many of this group that I have worked with for so long. 

Today, it was decided that we would all sit down and have, what a couple of the girls coined as, 'our last supper'.  On the menu was Pizza, soft drinks and to complete the affect was an autumn themed table cloth, candles and even a center piece someone had found.  There was plenty of laughter, lots of talking and, as the picture shows, a lot of smiling faces. 

It was, as it has always in the past, a good time.

When it was time for one of the girls to leave, she clocked out and as she passed me, she said, 'See ya tomorrow?'  And that is when it hit me.

This is the one liner that I have heard every day, I have worked here.   As co-workers would leave you would always hear someone ask, 'See ya tomorrow?'  I am not sure if anyone else ever noticed this but, like a ritual, it is the one thing that I have heard repeated more than anything else in this store.

There have been a few times that I have had to remove myself from the floor in order to regain my composure. And today, was no exception.

As I sit here and look at the picture, posted on FB, I have to admit that I am choked up.  Not to see these faces every day, not to hear my name being called from across the floor or get that chance to chit chat will be very difficult to get use to.

And, along with everything else, there will be nobody asking me,
'See ya tomorrow?'

Talk at ya later!