Goodbye to Big Weave

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”

--Pericles

I think Pericles summed it up nicely, y’all.

I’m a firm believer that people are sent into our lives for a reason. Either people are there to comfort us when we are facing trials, make us smile when we most need to, pull us out of our shell, toughen us up to the harsh realities of the world…there are even those rascals that teach us the dreaded patience lesson. There seems to always be a reason why each person enters our lives. Now, granted, sometimes we might not see it until later. As always, hindsight is 20/20.

Last Friday, as mentioned in my previous blog, I went to a little going-away party for a friend of mine. Actually, it wasn’t really a going-away party, considering he’s not moving anywhere…just changing jobs.

I’ve written a post or two in the past regarding my first job. (http://missmargarita8604.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-first-job.html ) As I was talking to Ms. Joyce last week, I told her that it felt like I had worked there so much longer than I had. In reality, I only worked there for a year and a half. So many things happened, it seemed like so much longer. There were crazy times, and there were bad times, but I wouldn’t have changed anything looking back.

I first started there as a shy, quiet, mousy thing…Thank God I came out of that quick. Part of that was due to the fact that I was an easy target for the Weave and some of the other managers at the time. He would pick on me until I was ready to deck him…then he would tell me “You need to smile more.” I. Yi. Yi. I would turn my register light off and walk outside, when I came back in he would be standing there waiting to be rang up, my light would have “magically” been turned back on …and then I would get a lecture about how I needed to turn off my light if I was going to go outside. I’m telling you, the boy drove me nuts. But, then again, we also had a lot of fun at the store. Courtney was constantly causing a ruckus, some cashiers (that shall not be named) were always saying the stupidest things, and there was always someone to make fun of. Looking back, the group that I worked with always had a really good time. I miss that sometimes.

Last Wednesday, my heart sank a little when I heard that Weave was leaving. Hitchcock’s will never be the same. There will be no singing through the aisles as the Hitchcock’s radio plays an entirely different song. There will be no one to tease cashiers or tell them crazy crap that they will only believe because they are gullible. There will be no one to say “Get to work” in all-weave fashion as the cashiers stand around gossiping. There will be no one to yell "Big Weave" in that weird way that only Ryan could do when he had accomplished something. Nope, the store will never be the same.

We will miss you Weave. I’m going to post what I wrote in the book that was given to him last week.

Ryan,

Even though you will still live in Trenton and be around, Hitchcock’s won’t be the same, and even Trenton won’t feel quite the same. That is by far the saddest part. You just “made” Hitchcocks. Between your singing, your constant teasing, you making me mad…then telling me “You need to smile more,” us calling each other “bipolar,” you firing me multiple times, and having a yelling match or two in the parking lot…knowing you has been a trip. But in all honesty, you were an awesome boss. When I came to Hitchcocks, I had no work experience. You taught me about customer service (though I am not the best with that now, I will admit…just ask Carrie) and you helped prepare me for the workforce. Not to mention, you gave me tougher skin, which I appreciate now. I do believe you were the best first boss that I could’ve had. You were also a good friend to me. I know we’ve had our ups and downs…and some days I might have wanted to push you down a flight of stairs…haha…but like I told you the other day, that’s just “how we roll.” That’s how it’s always been and how it will always be.

I know that you will be successful in whatever you do; I know that. Who knows, a year from now, you might think this is the best thing that could’ve happened to you. I just want you to know that while you were here, you’ve made an impact on many, many people. I know that because you’ve made a big impact on me, Ryan Weaver. I wish you and your family the best of luck. I hope that you will stop by the Journal from time-to-time to catch me up on things.

Aleta