The Last Day

Posted by Charles Fri, 23 Sep 2005 17:10:00 GMT

One of my regular customers today congratulated me on my last day ever of being an employee. I had to stop and think about that for a bit. “Yeah, if it works” was the first thought, then I thought about the amount of change. I mean, I don’t do change well, reluctantly when I have to, and not at all when I don’t. My life didn’t change this much when I got married. I lived with this woman for a while, got a marriage license, took a day or so off work, got married, then went on with things. I got a dog the same way. Not that big a deal, little change, in little increments, got used to it.

Up until today, its been pretty easy, so conceptual, not like reality. I just use my spare time to plan a business, instead of go for another ride, or plan the next trail work day. With everything on paper, or in my computer (and a few fixtures in the yard) it has been pretty easy to adjust to. But now not only am I no longer an employee, but the woman is now working for me, and the dog is my shop dog. I don’t go to work in the same place, or at the same time, won’t dress the same way, or answer the phone the same. I will no longer introduce myself to other cyclists as Charles from Trail Head, nor will I see a lot of friends there. I had been growing roots for over six years, intertwining my own identity with that of the shop. At the end of the day, I packed up my coffee mugs and extra pair of work shoes before I left the shop, and handed over my keys and credit card. I walked out the door, and heard the bell ring in a way it never had before.