I am currently, at this moment of writing, at work on Church Street. I have been here for about 3 hours, but it has been very quiet in the store. Only about 25 customers have walked in, and of them, just 4 have made purchases for a total of about $100. Pitiful! Is it because of the weather? Certainly not-it is beautifully sunny and 77 degrees outside-couldn't be nicer. There are hundreds of people milling about, enjoying------the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival! It has been going on for the past ten days. Now, I'm not one who would have said I enjoy jazz music. I would never listen to it on a regular basis. But I have LOVED this week. It has been wonderful mainly because the very nice restaurant right next door to us has provided live music daily from open to close. The stage is set up outside, right in front of our window, and they have a section of outdoor seating under a tent. It's been great. The performances last about 3 hours each, there's a brief break, then someone new comes on. The entire festival consists of many free performances scattered about the city, and down to the lake, but most of those aren't audible from our location. This has made us feel a true part of it all. Today is the last day of the festival, then life on Church Street will quiet down a bit for the next few weeks, until the town really comes to life with the tourists and state visitors.
So, am I still enjoying my "new job?" You bet I am! It's pretty relaxed and easy going for the most part. I know that will change when we get into the busier season, especially having a true holiday period in December again. The customers have been good, and I can find things to relate with many of them if they are visitors, or grandparents, or regulars. Of course, there are always the ones who want nothing to do with a sales person, and just want to graze their way thru the store, and that's fine, I'm often like that when I shop. Funny-as I'm writing about customers, I just had a woman in who remembered me from the maternity store! We had connected because she and her husband had moved up here recently from Baltimore. She had her new little guy with her. And this morning, before I headed into work, I talked with my granddaughter and daughter while sitting out on the patio. She wants to come up here and pick baby strawberries, and since she can't come, she asked if I would bring some with me when we go down there next month. How cute. So, all is going well, life is good, though I will always miss living close to "the girls and their babies."
