Originally posted on DECEMBER 2, 2018

I’m sure many of you have noticed my lack of posts lately and have been wondering where I’ve been… Well I’ve been here busy with life and work. Since I last posted there have been a few changes. I wrote in my intro about working at OSH.

I worked there on Sundays and loved it. Then we got some terrible news, all Orchard Supply Hardware stores were being closed, Lowe’s (who purchased OSH about 5 years ago) had decided to close and liquidate all Orchard stores.

I was heartbroken, I had come to love my Sunday job, my OSH family were the reason I loved my Sundays so much. Over the next two months things changed. Many of us stayed till the end, but it was not easy. I admire everyone who was there because my one day a week there became a little difficult, many of our regular customers came in to say goodbye, and they were so sweet and compassionate. It was our non-regulars, those looking to get an amazing deal hoping for 50% and more at liquidation costs that made it difficult, they were rude and disrespectful, and it was a struggle to be nice to them when they decided to cuss us out, and tell us that our lack of this or that was why we were closing.

My co-workers had to deal with more than that, and I think we all developed a little thicker skin because of that. It also brought us closer together. We really stuck together as a team, and our team grew, we connected with our fellow OSH teams via Facebook and it was great to be able to share our common experiences and frustrations, as well as triumphs, and more importantly, share our special memories. The posts many of the veteran employees shared, photos, memories etc… were amazing.

The commemorative t-shirts that were designed for us, which we were able to purchase were great and we wore them with pride at work, and will continue to wear them.

Our last day was very difficult. Watching the product dwindle, as well as fixtures disappear, was upsetting. It was the dismantling of our fencing for our cart corral that hit me. The amazing thing about the day was how everyone was there, smiling, and we got through it all together. We even had some of the gals who had moved on to other jobs come in and visit, bringing their babies and saying goodbye to the store and see you soon to many of us.

I went in with a few others the next day to help clean, dust sweep and clear off the shelves of random products and such. We had one final gathering as a team, our last meeting where we found out how to file for unemployment, or when and how we would recieve our last check. Many of us stayed to chat a while after and say our goodbyes. It was good. I went in the next sunday, we still had fixtures to sell and I got to spend another day in the store helping to pick up and clean the floor, where former fixtures had once stood. It was sad, but I was glad to be there one last time. The store sign came down this week (just over a month after doors closed), I drove by on Sunday night after my shift at my new Sunday job and I was happy to see it still up. Then came the post on our facebook page, our sign was down, I teared up at that.

It truely is is amazing how things work out, I took the job mostly because it was a job and I needed one, but was part time, I continued looking for something full time and found Verizon. I had begun to enjoy my shifts at OSH and I liked my co-workers. I decided to ask to stay on for Sunday only and I was thrilled when management agreed. For something that was a stop gap job for me became something wonderful. I have amazing friends and memories because of OSH.

I’ve really struggled with the store closing, and am really looking forward to the Christmas party we still have planned. I miss my Sundays at OSH, and hope that I enjoy my Sundays at Lowes half as much.

p.s My blog posts did not transfer over with my hosting change, but posts like this are a good window into how my life is and how writing has helped me. Writing and journaling helps our minds process emotions and allows us to get our thoughts out and make sense of them.

p.p.s. Lowe’s has worked out and I enjoy my shifts there and like my co-workers. It is just not the same and I do miss OSH.