Goodbye little "Sister", I'm glad you were in my life

When my parents announced to me and my sisters in a 1996 family council that we would be getting an addition to the family, I claimed the sole, "no way" vote. My little "sister" was born in June of 1996, just before I turned 16. We named her, Lasting Memories. She took up too much of my time, I wasn't too keen on tending her, and she monopolized my mom all day. I didn't like her.

She started out small and really without much personality at all. A long, empty looking narrow room with a large window to the Mervyn's parking lot and a white bookshelf with a few albums and a small white counter with a computer was all there was too it. I sat there after school many days - bored. I entered inventory into the computer system from the back room, and loathed the hours I spent under dim florescent lights counting and typing in numbers. And then my family and I would come home tired each day and continue to "talk shop" until bedtime.

I remember after a while when we finally got to hire a couple employees. Finally, I could hang out with someone other than my family. Little Sister got a little cooler.

Over the years little sister grew up. I saw many of her milestones - I remember when:

· We got our first customer (we were so excited). Mom even framed the dollar bill!

· We finally got a scanner for the register instead of just typing in the four digit code

· More customers came in and they liked what we had to sell

· I started getting a paycheck

· We got a second computer for the counter

· Lasting Memories girl sat outside the front door and greeted customers

· A customer complained about my customer service which led to me taking a good look at myself and deciding to learn to become more outgoing and excel at customer service (a major influential choice in my life)

· We had our first major event involving bunches of gummy cherries that I ate too many of. (To this day it kind of makes me sick to my stomach to think about it)

· We hired even more employees

· We did our first inventory... and the second, and third and fourth...etc. etc. (I really didn't like little Sister on those days)

· We began offering classes

· I went to CHA and other shows

· Began the the keytag program (I still actually have an original keytag)

· We moved into the 21st century and started up the LM website

· Moonlight Madness involved making cute buttons and runs to California Burger for milkshakes

· My best friend from when I was 5 and lived in Seattle came in and we were reunited as I put her name in the computer

· We moved the store to a larger spot

· We knocked out a wall to make an even larger store

· When LM got caller ID and I could no longer call pretending I was someone else and wreak havoc on my poor mom (heheh, that was so funny)

· We hired great crew of many employees and I actually started to like being there

With the years that passed, I came to know many of the regular customers and enjoy my time with my LM friends. 9 years ago I hung up the Lasting Memories apron for the last time, with my marriage and subsequent move to Utah. Yet, the store was still a part of my life because it was a part of my families' life. I experienced the rest of the years through telephone conversations and watching the website from Utah and then from Oklahoma.

When my mom announced to the family that Lasting Memories would be closing its doors permanently, I experienced a mixed reaction. First, I was sad. Then I was happy, a little relieved and excited. Sometimes kids worry about their parents as much as parents worry about their kids. I could feel that mom was ready for a change (actually, needed a change was more like it). It was just time. This is a good thing for mom and dad. And as much as I appreciate the store, I really love them more.

And yet, there is something very sad in it. (Caution: The following is sappy) As I was thinking about what LM means to me, the "Cheers" TV show theme song came unbidden to my mind.

...Sometimes you wanna go

Where everybody knows your name

And they're always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see

The troubles are all the same

You wanna go where everybody knows your name

You wanna be where people know

People are all the same

You wanna go where everybody knows your name

For many, LM was their Cheers (minus the beverages). Wasn't the past 14 years fun? Didn't we have a blast?

I sure hate change, but isn't that what life is all about? "What!? They stopped making that cute paper with the doodads??? Oh, now hold the phone! What's this!? Ohhh, they made even better paper with better doodads - hop into my basket, we're going home to play!" Lasting Memories always had the latest and greatest. There was always something new and wonderful to OOooo and Ahhh over. That's change - bringing good and bad. But you know what is cool? Sometimes something comes along and then it's gone, but the impact it made on you stays with you. It’s yours to keep no matter what.

Lasting Memories began as a college funding idea for me and my three younger sisters. Looking back, it was so much more than that to me. It was where I made the decision to love people, to see the good in all of them. It was where I made many good friends. It was where I gained valuable business experience and a firsthand look at economics. It began as an idea, struggled into existence, and blossomed into what it has become. This idea in my Mother's head has had a greater impact on my life than funding college - it has had an impact for a lifetime.

Yes, it turned out that the store was the all of the work I had imagined in the beginning and worse, but I hadn't counted on the blessings that would come to me and many others because of it.

So, little "Sister" and everyone who was a part of her existence, thanks for the Memories - they truly were Lasting...

What do you remember about Lasting Memories? Please comment and share your memories!