Hellllloooooo! It’s me! I’m back! I’ve had a few obstacles in my way of blogging regularly, but I think I have managed to start working out the kinks so I can at least come here periodically and have a little fun with it….
First off, I cannot even believe that this month Christian and I celebrate TWENTY THREE YEARS together! Whhhhhhhhaaaaaaaat?!?? Yes. Wow. Where does the time go? I swear I don't know what I would have done without him this last year.......
Last weekend we had a fire, friends, lots of great convo and catching up, and the reminder that it had been one year since we'd seen some of these folks when they were in town at the farm for a big burn a year ago.
Last November, I had a big 'girls-night' bonfire planned for weeks - a gathering where I knew everyone, but some had never met each other. A cool way to forge some great friendships between gals I knew. Anyway, at that bonfire of 2021, I had just been unexpectedly and abruptly let go from my management position at the job where I devoted 20 years. The reminder that it had been just over a year since that happened was crazy - a whole year (another anniversary!)! And through it all, I’m doin’ jusssssssst fine.
In the words of Joe Walsh, “Life’s Been Good To Me So Far”……
Silently Saturday night as I watched the fire burn, and stared up at the starry sky and the cloud patterns, I was able to reflect on the last year and be pretty damn proud of how I have been maneuvering without that 9-5 [soul-sucking] desk job and the salary that I had become completely dependent on…. You see in hindsight, a few of the details of the end of that chapter are comical and quite fitting for becoming great reading material.... such as I was let go on the Friday before Halloween (which was on Sunday), an in true Sandice Thrasher fashion, I went to work dressed like a taco that day. Yes. My last day at work - a place I managed to work through my 20s, 30s, and into my 40s - a place I grew up in, essentially - I showed up dressed like a taco on the day I was to be axed.
Obviously I had no idea whatsoever that this would be my last day...
There is so so much more to that story, and that story you’ll hear alllllll about another day, but irony had it on that Halloweeny day on October 29, 2021, the owner didn’t want to ‘taco’ bout any other options for me that day. That was that, and thus came the end of an era as I was swiftly escorted out of the building after gathering my things & stuffing my taco costume into the back seat of my car.
As the holidays inch closer, I’m reminded of how I got through them last year amid the circumstances....
I rearranged my shop countless times until I felt the setup really encouraged and motivated me to think outside the box. I made everyone’s presents last year and what spawned from that experience was an opening to create unique, affordable, personalized gifts year-round for people all over the country! These little fun projects along with my revamping the Etsy vintage shop has kept the farm afloat and fed cared for all her creatures.
It didn’t happen overnight, and is still a work in progress, but I am continuously evolving my techniques and in the last month made some real progress I absolutely love.
Last night at the fire, a friend asked to see some of my recent pieces, and that spawned a conversation about photo transfers on sheet-metal by another friend that is a tintype artist, and well, let’s just say that now I have a brand new process to try out and I’m excited about it! I adore my friends, and love the lessons I’ve learned in the last year, the most amazing continued support from Christian (who will likely never be seen here due to my respect of his privacy) and the growth that was only able to happen because I was humbled in ways I couldn’t have ever imagined.
I guess the moral is this story is…. Don’t go to work dressed like a taco on Halloween… OR …. don’t assume the one that signs your check values your loyalty. You are likely, simply put - a commodity.
Happy Monday to all of you, and if you keep up with my insta you are well aware that our tree went up just before Halloween, so we are in full swing of Christmas cheer over here and for those of you who are just a little too excited about the holidays a bit too early, I leave you with this fun Christmas mix!
xoxo,
-S
No comments:
Post a Comment