Michelle at work!
What a journey we've had together! What we have learned from each other! It's been a spiritual journey together in which we've both been given a blessed opportunity to have that very special friendship with another woman. I've always wanted a best friend like Michelle! We challenge and push each other to strip off the next layer of our emotional, psychological coverings and with each diminishing layer we just love each other more and the trust builds beyond what I would have ever imagined! It's intimacy! I've known it with my husband and my sister Mel and now with Michelle. We both share journeys in very spiritual (but not religious) 12-step programs and we both know how much these programs have contributed to our abilities and mental health! Doing the store together was challenging for us both--fun, rewarding but nevertheless challenging. Michelle's so much better suited to it than I am--just the facts, ma'am! And that's a fact! I'm an introvert and while it did invigorate me initially, I did find that eventually it just exhausted me. Jug and I intended to step up and get her started but we all thought that I would be able to remain a partner longer than five months! But we navigated through this additionally challenging time too! We arrived on the other side of the partnership only loving each other more! Isn't that just amazing? So The Vintage Home is all Michelle's on paper but we both feel I still belong there! She runs much by me just to get my opinion and then she does what she damn well pleases! Just kidding, I'm just a sounding board. I love watching her and watching the store flourish. She's an astounding talent--truly she is, I know I've said that so many times but it's so true. She just has an eye and a style. And I don't challenge or question it anymore! I love you Michelle!!! Give you five to one odds that Michelle's crying right now!! She's such a softie!! And considering how much we laugh, a little crying now and then is okay!
Let me end this little saga saying that I know The Vintage Home is a fabulous store. Women love it! Michelle has congregated quite a following of very loyal customers that just love her. And more are added every week. The store is a success. That said, realistically, we live in Wilkes County. (Wilkes-By-God-County, thank you very much!!--this is a local saying Michelle and I have pondered over and wondered where it came from!) And Wilkes County, well, there just isn't the population necessary that's sees the vision; that "gets it" as Michelle says. If this store and Michelle were in, say, Blowing Rock or Asheville, well, she'd have ten employees by now! You know, especially considering the economic climate we're enduring, the store does extremely well. She's tough and she's tenacious and she has a ton of energy and I believe she'll stick it out and endure through the challenging beginnings. And it's beautiful to watch!
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