It's Been SIX Months?!

Taking a quick break from my YOU Challenge. Don't worry, it'll be back tomorrow! ;-)

Today is sort of a weird one because it was six months ago tonight that we lost our shop. I have those feelings of, "it feels like only yesterday" while at the same time thinking, "we're a world away from that night".

Sometimes, it feels downright silly to be a little emotional about a place. But I don't mind being silly and anyone who knows me knows I can be a bit emotional. The memories of what I jokingly call Peachtree Bikes Buckhead Version 1.0 are bittersweet. They only occasionally come flooding back when I hear a song that always played on our XM radio or see an old familiar face that's popping in to "check out the place". I miss the old space and things are different, but I hear change is good. :-)

Those emotions aren't as raw as they were six months ago and we've come so far. I jokingly feel like I can't really remember much between December 4th (the fire) and March 24 (our grand re-opening). It's all a blur. Inventory reports, building, answering questions, trying to explain what happened. We got it done and we're back!

The last six months have been both really difficult and inspiring at the same time. I have a new found faith in this industry and the people I'm surrounded by. I'm proud of my bosses, my co-workers and myself for not throwing in the towel when shit just got too hard. I have new friends to ride with. A new retail space to play with. And I get to see people walk in for the first time who knew what we were and gush over what we are now.

I think that we won't really be back to some sense of "normalcy" for about another year or so, but we're well on our way, y'all!

I can't thank those of you enough who've said prayers, brought goodies, gave hugs, called, came by, sent a quick message, and just get what this experience has been about. <3

Comments

Daughter.

When you're estranged from not one, but basically both parents, the heaviness of that can still be palpable. Most days, most weeks, and months even, it's fine. I've learned to navigate questions like, "Where do your parents live?" or the weird feeling in my gut when someone says, "Oh, my mom sent me this from this favorite place of mine." I've learned how to adjust to Mother's and Father's Days by staying off of social media and doing something that makes me happy like getting out into nature. Some of these times are better than others. Here's the thing: whether or not the choice to go no contact with the two people who were supposed to show you all the basis of love was good or not, is incredibly difficult. Because social media is what it is, yesterday was apparently "International Daughters Day". It didn't bother me so much yesterday, but this morning wasn't off to a great start and for some reason, I felt agitated. I ...

Goodbye.

“I don’t know if I should congratulate you or console you.” - Craig “How about both?” - Me This was a conversation in our kitchen earlier this week. After a year and a half of weekly therapy, I had my last session with my therapist Tuesday. Not because I was over it or because it wasn’t working or because he retired. Nope. Because we got to a place where we could both say I’ve got the tools I need to move on. I have to say that there is no timeline for therapy and every situation is unique. I moved on from intensive therapy with my therapist because that it was worked for ME. I am certainly no expert and I have a feeling this isn’t the end of my therapy forever, but I do know that my experience with the right person allowed me to heal in ways I literally never thought possible. And it gave me the experience of a healthy “goodbye”. I was never prepared for that, so when we set an end date (not-so-coincidentally my Nanna’s birthday), it was hard to process. No one talks ab...

Bikes!

Twenty years ago this month, I moved to Georgia and got a job at a local bike shop. My long-term boyfriend from my early twenties was an avid cyclist and bike mechanic. He had gotten a job wrenching at a local shop, Bicycles Unlimited. I was 19 and looking for a retail job since, at that point, it was all I knew. The shop was owned by a family and they were welcoming to this young girl working there with ZERO experience. I started on the sales floor and moved on to inventory management. It was my first foray into the inner workings of small businesses. More importantly, this was my introduction to the bicycle industry which has been one of the most meaningful relationships I've ever had. I'd say 75% of the people I know in my life can be credited to a bicycle. Whether it be through rides, shops, or sponsors... I have met some of the most inspiring and influential people because of a BIKE. Some of the most fulfilling experiences I've had have been on a bike or because of bi...

A Lovely Life

Looking For Something?