random weekday. mama loads me and lil bro in the car and into town we go. she gets her hair done...we crawl around on the floor and get a coke, in a glass bottle, for a quarter (or something insanely cheap like that). then we stop at the martinette to pick up the dry cleaning...we get a handful of chicklets for a penny. last stop? kaufman's for new clothes for somebody...i didn't care for who, i just liked going...and hugs from all the sales people.
FLASH FORWARD 1982 (ish)
every wednesday. mama's day off. gather up the empty pepsi bottles and take them to the iga...mama cashes them in and we get groceries for the week. i need a jacket for school. off we go to bashford's to pick up my varsity jacket. and my new saddle shoes. and EVERY pair of shorts or tee shirt i will need for cheerleading.
FLASH FORWARD today
bashford's is gone. kaufman's is gone. many of the places i remember going as a child or teenager are gone. maybe the owners just wanted to retire...or maybe they couldn't compete with malls and chain stores. or the internet. in their place are new small businesses. a few seem to be making it. some store fronts...and names...seem to change as fast as the weather. it breaks my heart.
friday...most everyone will be at the mall. or wal~mart. or target. or *insert big chain store here*. monday...people will sit at their computers and search out great online deals (more on cyber monday in a later post). but in between...in between is SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY. a day set aside to peruse the shelves of your local small business. maybe it's an antique store. a unique home furnishings boutique. a place to purchase great gifts and craft beers. my suggestions to you? this saturday, take a few hours and walk the brick sidewalks of lebanon, oh. grab a vera bradley bag or crabtree and evelyn lotions from oh suzanna. purchase a unique gift or home furnishing from pink hippo. check out the antiques at the broadway antique mall. grab a frozen custard at whit's. and then stop in at the paddock for a craft beer or wine. we should be shopping small businesses everyday. not just one day out of the year....
ps...you say you want to start your day with a mani/pedi, spray tan, and new 'do? check out the girls at hair~n~now salon and day spa!!
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