The Card Store With The Soda Fountain

One of my favorite childhood memories is the small-town main street collection of family-owned independent shops that introduced visitors to our borough of Etna.  The sheer number of them indicated a vibrant town and they formed a path that led to the thriving steel mill which was the source of the vibrancy.  The variety of family names adorning storefront marquees was a geneaological reading of the ancestral roots of the town's residents.  We had everything from a mini "department" store we called Murphy's Five and Ten to bakeries, diners, mini "super" markets and corner stores, post office, hardware store, appliance store, candy factory, pharmacy, clothing stores, financial institutions, funeral homes, Isaly's deli with their famous chipped ham...and, one of my favorites, the card store with a soda fountain.

Somewhere in mid childhood years, the steel mill closed and took people and jobs, and eventually, storefronts, with it.  In the many decades since, the town has lost a large number of the original families, most of the original businesses and some of it's original appearance.  The threat of economic blight and a series of floods stole the spirit of many who threw in the towel and moved on, but the determination of others, both original residents and newcomers, have begun to turn things around and restore the small-town Main Street feel.  The hardware store, candy factory and appliance store are still there, now run by younger generations of the founders.  New businesses have moved in, adding life and promise.  But, I'll always remember the card store with a soda fountain.

Though I don't remember owner names and every little detail about the place, I do remember the warm smile and friendly personality of the little lady who welcomed me and made me feel important each time I entered her shop.  I remember being more fascinated by the rows of cards, individually wrapped in their own protective clear sleeve, attractively displayed on shelves and cases along one big long wall than by the mouth-watering aroma of sweet treats emanating from the soda fountain.  Don't get me wrong, I eagerly looked forward to the inevitable treat at the end of our visit when I got to climb up on the high stools that positioned me at the perfect height to enjoy a delicious gourmet dessert and listen in on the neighborhood chatter surrounding me.  But, first, I had to tend to more important matters.  To some, it was a soda fountain shop that just happened to sell cards.  To me, it was the card store with a soda fountain.

Thanks to my mom and the lady who owned the place, I learned that shopping for cards was something special, not to be taken lightly or done quickly, with final selection always governed by the occasion, and most importantly, the personality and needs of the recipient.  It was truly an enjoyable process.  The store lady never treated me as a child, ignoring me or nervously watching my every move as many shopkeepers did when children enter their premises.  She delighted in carrying on a conversation with me as much as I did with her.  She was more than happy to assist me, involving me in the process, happily reading card after card until we found the one that was just right -- the perfect combination of illustration and message to carry the message in my heart to the recipient.  It was only then that I was ready to enjoy the soda fountain in the card store.

That store is long gone and many like them have died with their owners.  For the most part, big box chain store shopping experiences can't even begin to compare in this high-tech, super overscheduled world.  But, the need to find the perfect means of conveying the message in my heart has stuck with me over all these decades and continues to govern my choices.  Frustrated on many an occasion over not being able to find that perfect card, I've often lamented that I was going to open up my own card store or make my own cards.  Well, I decided it's time to do just that.  No, I'm not opening a card store, but I am launching a new venture of making my own cards, greetings and gifts that conveys the message in hearts in good grace and good taste -- the seed of which was planted many decades ago in the card store with a soda fountain.

Peace,
Kathy Marie

Friendly Thanks

Friends
So Much has been penned about friends
To the point where we don’t even hear
All those cliche words that fly at a closed ear…
Until the day we think our world will end
And we’re saved in the nick of time by a friend!

Today, I am thankful for my real, honest-to-goodness true friends — no long post — no gushing – no cliches – no long dissertation.  Just simply, “thank you.”  May you be blessed with these special people as a part of your lives.

Peace,

Kathy Marie

Angel Songs -- Good Things Come In Simple, Small Packages

Hollywood glitz … at first overshadowed by taller people, more mature acts and elaborate stage settings … lost in the overpowering bright lights … a tiny, ten year old emerges from the shadows into the bright lights.  Adorable, with dancing eyes and a naturally engaging warm little girl smile, she opened her mouth and began to sing.  Suddenly, this tiny figure’s voice overshadowed and overpowered all the others and the vast stage setting surrounding her.  Blessed with an unusually mature, beautiful operatic voice, even at her tender age of 10, she immediately captivated judges, studio audience and the TV world.  She became the odds on favorite to take it all from day one.

 

As contest weeks flew by and contestants were eliminated faster than you could blink an eye, the delightful little angel continued to shine … to pour everything she had into her performance … to amaze with the heights to which she could send her voice … to remain a down-to-earth ten year old.  It was obvious so many were rooting for her and even judges occasionally let slip a hint of whom they thought the odds-on favorite was.  In the last few weeks of the finals, it was almost a foregone conclusion that this little girl was going to walk away with it all.

The grand prize for the winner was $1 million and a headliner tour and Vegas show — so adult, so glitzy, so over showy…so, NOT 10 years old.  As much as a viewer wanted this little girl to win; as much as you knew she deserved it; as much as you’d love to see a fairytale ending, you also harbored doubts about whether the sudden fame and much too mature environment was the best for her.  But, you kept rooting … when she outdid herself week after week, song after song.  And, you just knew she had to win when she matched talent with Sarah Brightman on the season finale.  Everyone knew Jackie was going to win and you just prayed her parents could keep her grounded with what all would come her way when hit with sudden international fame.

But, there were two fairytale stories in the making.  Many had overlooked the simple guy from Mississippi … the talented country singer who wanted to win the million to help his grandparents who had lost everything in one of nature’s most memorable disasters.  He wasn’t glitzy or showy or overpowering Hollywood/Vegas either.  Like his little  colleague, he appeared to remain grounded.  Like Jackie, he appeared to genuinely love to sing and he, too, gave everything he had week after week.  They both deserved to be the two finalists. This viewer wished both could win, but the rules of the game deals the cards and dictates only one walks away with the jackpot.

In the end, a stunned and emotional country voice from Mississippi won out over the little angel voice from Pittsburgh.   But, in the end, they were both winners — both fairytales, still in the developing stages, can get to come true in due time — the appropriate time for each.   It was heartwarming to see Jackie embrace Michael as winner and her genuine graciousness in post-show interviews indicates she is far more mature than in just voice.  I look forward to seeing and hearing a lot more from BOTH winners and I pray they both remain grounded in their roots while showered with fame.

Simple and small packages — two class acts!

Peace,

Kathy

Better Than A Textbook

They’re great neighbors whom everyone loves.  Their two delightful primary and elementary age daughters are textbook examples of courtesy and a conversation with them reveals intelligent minds filled with knowledge and curiosity beyond their years, while still retaining the innocence of childhood.  They’ve graced the neighborhood with their presence since before the youngest was born so there was an element of surprise when the “for sale” sign went up in front of their house.  Surprise deepened when neighbors learned why — an employment opportunity beckons from another continent.

Their new home is a former communist country and for the older neighbors, it’s still hard to imagine an American family with young children willingly uprooting from the land of the free and the brave to take up residence in what is perceived to be an uncertain environment.  But, fortunately, the family sees beyond the older stereotypes and views it as an excellent career move, but most importantly, as a wonderful educational opportunity for their daughters — one they could NEVER receive from a textbook.  They will be going to school with children from all over the world and learning first-hand about a culture far different from theirs on a daily basis.  

Perhaps, in those classrooms, a community as diverse as the world itself, can grow into a “true community” where differences are foundations for learning and similarities are foundations for global understanding and unity.  Hopefully, the adults of the world will take notice and follow the younger generation’s example.

Peace,

Kathy Marie

If I Were A Teacher...

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”  From as early as I can remember and without hesitation, I always answered, “I want to be a teacher.”  I suspect that unequivocal decision resulted from a combination of factors.  I loved books, learning and school.  A few family friends whom I looked up to were teachers.  I loved children and planned on getting married and having kids, so a teaching job, perceived by me to be an 8 to 3 job, was the ideal choice since my schedule and theirs would match.  And, I must confess, I liked the idea of having the summer off! 

A wise high school guidance counselor strongly encouraged me to think about other career paths as a back up plan “just in case the teaching choice doesn’t work out.”  I never followed his advice because there was no doubt in my mind that I would ever be anything but a teacher! 

A few years later, I learned the lesson of life taking unexpected paths.  I never became a teacher, as a twist of fate placed me in a corporate library setting where I was happily surrounded by books and people for over 30 years, sneaking in a few teaching opportunities through seminar/workshop presentations and Junior Achievement.

But, if I were a teacher, I would:

1.  teach the youngest among us, learning from the naturally honest, freely creative thoughts flowing from fresh minds not yet tainted by fear of expression, prejudice or indoctrination.

2.  teach students to respect themselves so they would in turn respect others.

3.  teach students to be flexible because life doesn’t always go according to YOUR plan and those that survive constant change are those that know how to go with the flow and adapt to new environments.

4.   teach students to always hold on to their natural curiosity and let their minds dare to imagine because life’s greatest inventions and societal improvements do not come from stagnant brains.

5.  teach students to always set aside time for themselves so they might be healthy and strong to devote time to others.

6.  teach students to LAUGH so they might more easily deal with the tears.

And, I would send them off into the world with prayers that they may laugh more than they cry over a lifetime and always be surrounded by family and friends willing to share both.

Peace,

Kathy Marie

Thank You Notes? "What Are They?"

Childhood birthday parties were a lot of fun shared with family and school friends while playing games, singing, dancing, eating and opening presents.  The end of the party might have been the end of the celebration but for one important task that had to be done as soon as possible, preferably within a few days — writing thank you notes to all who came.  You thanked them as you opened their gift and did a general thank you for coming as they left the party, but the rules of etiquette dictated a hand-written note of some sort be sent after as well.  This fancy word “etiquette” was a system of “rules” that was supposed to turn us into courteous, respectful human beings with good manners.

In this day and age, I wonder if anyone sends thank you notes anymore.  You rarely hear the words “thank you,” let alone see them in writing.  I plead guilty to occasionally failing to use the etiquette of childhood and resorting to email or e-card notifications.  In all honesty, I do enjoy receiving mail in my inbox, so I appreciate the time someone spent to send greetings or thank you’s, regardless of delivery method.  However, viewing a message on a computer screen can’t compare to personally holding a card and reading the personal note written just for me in the handwriting of a relative who is no longer with us. 

So, it saddens me somewhat knowing we might be raising a generation who will never know what a real thank you note is.  I mourn not just for the lack of courtesy and respect, but more for the loss of genuine human interaction (the personal touch) and the loss of connection to previous generations.

Peace,

Kathy Marie