Perfect to the Penny

At some point in our careers, we may find ourselves part of an obsolete operation, such as a downsizing, business insolvency, or even a single retail store closing.

This can be a time of positive reflection for us, if we "step back" and ponder the good things that have happened, as well as all the new things we have learned.

Such was the case for us, not long ago.

Our store was closing. I could take the time to list all the shoulda, coulda, woulda items that may have made a difference, and perhaps even have saved the store, but at this point, it doesn't matter anymore. This is written to add human perspective and feeling when considering impending change.

We had already had our last "store meeting". It turned out to be a barbeque at someone's home.

Our store manager arranged for all of us to be at the store together for a one hour window of time. He bought everyone a tall fruit smoothie drink and we just sat around and talked and laughed.

Then it occurred to us that this would be the last time all of us would ever be together at the same time again. The store would close, some of us were moving, and we would all go our own separate ways, forever.

We had made efforts to let others know who had worked with us in the past that the store was closing. I had written a poem about the event and had given copies to all who I thought may care. It went like this:

"Remembering When"

Where does one begin?
How does one collect the thoughts
The feelings and essence of an
Era that has come to a close?
To simply put words to paper
Does not convey the yearnings
The hopes and excitement
The companionship and triumphs that
Were waged and won
Individually and as a team
As we strived for the best
In each other and collectively
To make a success of our dreams.

And now, at it's passing
We reflect on the special times
The sweet times
The personal times of joy and tears
Shared among us, for us and
Because of us for
The essence of life
Was not within these walls
But within the heart
The mind, and the blood
Of those within.

We will always look back
On this time of our lives
With a smile on our lips
Remembering friends
Remembering when....

The reaction was mixed. Some replied, others said nothing. The original manager who had opened the store at the first called and spoke with me. He had figured it would happen, but was surprised when it came so soon. He had appreciated the poem.

Another girl who had worked in the past was shocked when she had received a mass mailing notice sent to our past customer base that we were closing. She came in with her husband one evening to ask if it was true.

Most others have made no response.

I am the only one left who had been there when the doors had opened for the first time. I was there at the birth of hope and opportunity, and now I would be there when they pulled the plug of life support and see it die.

As we sat and talked and joked and fell silent, we knew we would never see each other again. We shook hands, hugged, and the party dispersed.

Without realizing it, I ended up alone to close the store that night. I didn't know I was scheduled alone on my last night in before the store closed for the last time.

I locked the doors, as I had done so many times.

I counted the register, consciously, for the last time. The cash was right on. It was perfect to the penny.

I made out the deposit and printed up the daily reports.

"Funny", I mused. I printed up reports for a day when no one had cared to keep track of the hourly sales. It was the first time we had not kept track.

I bagged up the garbage and set it by the back door. I turned off the lights and just stood there for a moment. I would never see this or feel this again.

I carefully punched in my own security code and set the alarms...for the last time.

I picked up the garbage bag to toss in the trash bin outside and opened the door to leave.

I smiled.

It had been fun.

I closed the door behind me, for the last time, and quietly walked away.

Bob Curtis has been writing articles, short fiction and poetry for over 30 years. He is currently themanaging director of people4people.blogspot.com, and is the president of Nexus Publishing, nexus4u.blogspot.com, in Midvale, Utah.

family-safe home cleaners Morton Grove ..

In The News:

Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.

New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.

The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.

San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.

FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.

Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool lets you control your Reels feed in real time. The app now gives you power to customize what videos you see.

Major Marquis fintech breach exposes 400,000-plus Americans' data through unpatched SonicWall vulnerability, with Texas hardest hit at 354,000 affected.

Free up iPhone storage fast by clearing large photos and videos from Messages app. Simple steps for iOS users to delete attachments without losing chats.

Scammers are flooding inboxes with fake tracking alerts that mimic real carriers, exploiting the holiday rush to steal logins and personal data.

The Fox News AI Newsletter brings you the latest news on AI technology advancements and the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Texas family reunites with missing 11-year-old cat Grayson after 103 days using Petco Love Lost's AI photo matching technology and community help.

Tired of AI customer service loops? These insider tricks help you escape "frustration AI" and get real human help when you need it most for urgent issues.

Unlock richer audio from your streaming apps with simple tweaks to volume normalization, equalizer settings, and quality preferences for cleaner sound.

Scammers are sending fake Facebook settlement payout emails that mimic legitimate notices from the privacy settlement administrator to deceive users.

Holiday shopping scams surge as fake refund emails target distracted consumers during Black Friday and holiday seasons, costing Americans billions annually.

The AI-powered IRMO M1 exoskeleton features four modes, including turbo, eco, training and rest for hiking, running, cycling and sports with eight-hour battery life.

OpenAI announced upgrades for its ChatGPT Images platform on Tuesday, saying the program can now make more precise edits and produce images more quickly.

Chrome for Android now turns web articles into AI-powered podcast conversations. Get hands-free browsing with Google Gemini's natural audio summaries.

LastPass faces $1.6 million fine from U.K. regulators after 2022 data breach exposed 1.6 million users. Password manager failed proper security controls.

Petco disclosed a data breach exposing customer Social Security numbers, financial account details, and driver's license information due to a software error.

Baseball teams can now analyze complete swing mechanics in normal training environments using Theia's markerless AI system that processes standard high-speed footage.

Smart home hacking fears overblown? Expert reveals real cybersecurity risks and simple protection tips to keep your connected devices safe from hackers.

MIT develops needle-free glucose monitor using light technology. Revolutionary device could replace painful finger pricks for diabetes management.

The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.

Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.

Perfect to the Penny

Positive Attitude Tips