Reflections on John

John Romano

314-808-5973

Just a few thoughts about spending money on things like pipes, drains, and valves, all that plumbing stuff. Such expenditures are necessary sometimes, but not my favorite way to spend money.

When we awoke Monday morning to gallons of water all over the floor and draining into the basement, we sort of knew the week would be a little different than planned. Will got the water turned off, but we needed someone who could help us figure out why the leak started in the first place and fix it.

Our good friend, John, was owner of Bayless Hardware in south county for many years. He has become a very helpful handyman to lots of people since he retired. And Bill says he knows all there is to know about plumbing. So we called John to come figure out and fix our mystery leak.

So what is there to reflect about that?

Our family has known and loved John's family for many years. The frustration of spending money on pipes and drains was gone, because the money was going to John.

I know he is honest and knowledgeable and works hard (when he's not floating on a beautiful Missouri stream). All the money he earns by fixing our problem will be spent wisely and well right here in the St. Louis community....probably on gasoline to go visit those grandkids in Columbia.

So my reflection is this: Commerce is more satisfying when it is less about a legal exchange of cash for goods and services and more about having needs met in a personal and relational way by people we like.

Bradburn's Parent and Teacher Stores

bradburnspts.com

A black fine point Sharpie, it is part of the McDonald family system to manage and control the ever pressing busy-ness of our culture. The system: a giant calendar with a different color pen for each person. I was still shopping at the big office stores in January and bought a 2011 calendar with a set of multicolored fine point Sharpies. Micha chose the black one for his activities and now it is lost. We are dependent on this calendar, so where could I hurriedly go to buy another black Sharpie now that the adventure has begun?

Oh, yes, Bradburn's parent teacher store! I hadn't been there since the children were younger. In those days it was a frequent stop. At Christmas for interesting games and toys:

And when I was in my parent as teacher mode, the educational supplies were the best and what a variety, every subject, every level.

While I pored over the intriguing possibilities, the kids played in the well supplied activity area.

Oh, the choice of paper and art supplies...mmm...inspirational. We all felt artistic just looking at those colorful sheets.

But today my quest was for office supplies!

I didn't need glue,

Nor erasers,

Not even wax pencils.

But Sharpies and there they were...every color, every size.

Well, maybe not EVERY color but certainly enough variety for my need.

When you go visit Bradburn's be sure to notice the picture of Mr. William and Elvera Bradburn over the door at the back of the store. In their home they began Bradburn's School Supply 65 years ago.

Their daughter, Elizabeth Parkinson and her son, Brad, continue to manage this outstanding local business. I got to meet Brad while I was in the store today. He was kind enough to take a few minutes from his hectic schedule to say hello and charm me with stories of working for his grandpa when he was just a little boy earning precious quarters. And then, growing in responsibility, he earned money to pay for college, learned the school supply business, and today keeps this wonderful store as a helpful and contributing member of the St. Louis Community.

I also talked with Mark Kramer who has worked for Bradburn's for 25 years. He spoke eloquently of the challenges facing local businesses as people have come to expect endless variety at rock bottom prices, something only the giant stores on the corner can accomplish. He pointed out that the big stores do a sort of "cherry picking" approach. Having already dominated the office supply niche, they are now choosing the top 100 selling educational materials to offer at their stores, cutting harshly into the harvest of this small business. Because of this, endless regulation, and burdensome taxes Bradburn's has had to close 1 of their three stores in the St. Louis area, so instead of employing 28 or 30 people, they now employ 18 and yet another building has a "for lease" sign in the window.

But did I detect a note of cynicism or despair? Not at all. Mark loves and believes in the work he does, sensing that his job is about more than selling school supplies at the cheapest price. It is about taking time to offer service, answer questions, know the suppliers, know the customers and continually adjust inventory to meet the needs of parents and teachers in St. Louis.

So whether you need art supplies or workbooks or just a black sharpie, you'll have a good time if you go to Bradburns!

Chill

www.chillonwydown.com

We had all gone to a lecture series tonight. It was excellent, very intellectual and challenging. More challenging for some of us than others. With minds weary from focusing we decided a sweet treat was in order. Alli told us about a new yogurt shop a few blocks away. She had happened on it the night of its grand opening. It is owned by a St. Louis resident and the yogurt is even made with milk from a local dairy. So with eagerness to try a new local business we were on our way to CHILL.

It was a visual delight from the moment we approached the door.

Cool lamp shade.

Cheerful seating.

Sleek interior design. A perfect place to relax and well, chill...

But what about the yogurt?

It is one of those serve yourself places that have become so popular of late.

First choose the size,

Then choose the flavor,

aw yes, a mango blackberry blend.

Mmmm it is lookin' good, but wait there is more.

Toppings, lots and lots of toppings.

Now that looks even better!

And oh so healthy!

It was a jolly party. We left with minds refreshed ready for life's next challenge. And enjoyed another local business in the process!

Rudd's Turf and Landscaping

314-368-6581

You see, my idea was this: digging up the front yard would be a really nice father and son's spring day activity! They seem to enjoy chopping wood together, why not digging?

Imagine the most lumpy and bumpy and weedy patch you've ever seen and that is our yard. I knew it needed help, but I didn't know what...weeding, seeding, sodding, leveling, grading? I was confident these bright men could figure it out.

But you know, they really were not interested in figuring it out, nor could a glimmer of interest be enticed from them. "We could just call one of those companies who spray the yard with chemicals every few weeks," they suggested..... trying to be helpful. Aw, but they wouldn't be a local privately owned business and remember the last time we did that? The yard became addicted to that stuff and the day after we stopped using the chemicals the weeds returned stronger than ever.

How about I ask the helpful folks at Garden Heights Nursery?

They recommended a few great companies and highly recommended Rudd's Turf and Landscaping. I called Mr. Rudd Hebert and caught him just before his busiest season was underway.

He came by: evaluated our little weed garden, made some recommendations and some estimates. We said yes and he said he could start Monday.

He arrived this morning with the neatest little dirt machine you've ever seen. He and that machine worked all day moving more dirt than I thought could be under those weeds.

As I watched those piles and piles of dirt moving from this high spot to that low spot,

it became clear to me: that is why those intelligent men in my life weren't excited about my digging plan. It would have taken them days to move all that dirt with a shovel.

reflections

Since my daughter, Alli, and I saw the first trailer for a new "Jane Eyre" movie, we have eagerly looked forward to seeing it together. That was months ago, before my resolve to shop only at independently owned businesses. So when it was released a couple of weeks ago I steadfastly reminded her I couldn't go after all, because the studios or the distributors or someone won't let Mr. Ross show it at the Hi-Pointe. She decided to see it with some friends, loved it, and insisted the cinematography was stunning and I must see it on the "big screen". I still remained unshaken in my determination. However, today she insisted that

1. I had promised, and

2. the whole family could go tonight, and

3. she was paying, and

4. I really could not say no!

Well, I've never been able to tell my very persuasive first born child no. I considered since I would be her guest, it would not be cheating to go to a competitor of the Hi-Pointe Theatre.

But I came away wishing I could have seen it at the Hi-Pointe and with two more reasons to choose the Hi-Pointe Theatre whenever you can!

1. The movie will always be on the "Big Screen"! Unlike tonight at the multiplex where this cinematic beauty was relegated to the little shoe box screen.

and

2. You don't have to sit through several minutes of commercials before seeing the movie you have already paid to see!