" "

I am at a loss for words. After 24 years, my dad is closing up shop and saying goodbye. Except, of course - this being my dad, he's not really saying goodbye. I am. He wants me to write a letter to his landlord and his customers. This is a great idea, very gentlemanly. But here's the catch - how do I do that? How am I supposed to put into words what a blessing this is? How much we hated the store at the end? All while staying kind and thankful for business? I don't know how to write this letter.

This is unquestionably hard for me. I grew up there. I've known the other shop owners as they've rotated in and out of the building. I've seen Apple Core leave, Harrison's open, The Finish Line open and move, the diner change ownership, and so many other shops. Through those years, only Clement's and Charlie's have remained immutable. Yet as much love as I have for the entire building, I was afraid we would be immutable as well. I feared we would go down with the shop. And at times, it looked like we were.

Trying to write these letters is making me feel like I'm being raked over hot coals. It's difficult to express the appropriate regret when there really isn't any. There's only a deep sadness that this is the second part of my childhood gone. Even as my childhood is twisting it's heart, my adulthood is yelling good riddance and skipping away. There is no reconciling the two. And unfortunately, I can't write a letter expressing them both.