This is my favorite holiday because like many, I have so much to be thankful for. First and most importantly, I am thankful to James, my husband of 39 years (crazy long, right?) of partnership, family & business. By sharing himself, he has made me a better person. Secondly, I am thankful for our families and especially our two sons, Stuart and Trevor, who are the joy of my life. And then there’s Gill’s. Wow, what a journey it has been. Yes, there have been many challenges & struggles, but along the way, a lot of good. I am very thankful for the culture of customers & staff I get to spend my days with. Mostly, at the end of the day, I feel good about what we’ve accomplished.
I love helping customers (when I know the answer) and watching our staff help customers. It’s so much fun to see that ah-ha moment when a customer’s garden mystery is solved. I love seeing customer’s faces light up when they learn a new garden trick and wow, what a treat when I hear we’ve made a home even better with a well thought out planting. I love having a beautiful store to work in. Not fancy, but pretty. I love walking out back to see all the new plants, fresh off the trucks. I love watching kids play with Lily & Heath (our nursery cats) and adults pausing to pet them. How rewarding to find sometimes customers come in just to stroll in the garden; to take a break from the day. Most importantly, what a treat to feel we’re putting smiles on people’s faces.
And yes, I am very thankful for our co-workers. As Debbie Pinkerton, our buyer, said many years ago about our team, “We share our laughter, knowledge, tears, successes, failures & frustrations with one another. Sounds like a family to me.”
Yes, I have a lot to be thankful for.
– Sally
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