A Message From Brad
Physically rested…Mentally exhausted,
Well, this has been quite the experience hasn’t it? Fitterer’s Furniture has now been closed since March 19th due to the pandemic. Six weeks is a long time for any business to close its doors and be able to survive. We will survive and are looking forward to our 125th celebration activities in 2021.
Although we’re closed, we look forward to the phased reopening of the store where we have a safety plan in place and will follow guidelines to hopefully keep everyone healthy. While closed, Cheryl and I continue to work everyday either in the store or at home where she answered the calls that had been forwarded to her cell and responded to e-mails. I personally found that I really enjoyed a mid afternoon nap. After 44 years in retail it was nice to have the chance to recharge physically and get some yard work done. So maybe I am physically more rested than I was on March 18th but mentally I am very weary. The worry about the health of my employees and valued customers, lost revenue while merchandise continued to arrive, and how to manage and plan for an uncertain future took a mental toll.
Please don’t misunderstand me…yes, I might sound like I’m complaining and feeling sorry for myself but I am truly blessed during this time. Let me count just a few of those blessings…Fitterer’s Furniture will survive to reopen again soon…we have wonderful employees who have waited patiently to return to work…we have been ably assisted by Jerry Grebb of Grebb, Johnson, Reed and Wachsmith and Pam Wilson of Cashmere Valley Bank while trying to navigate the financial challenges…I have been wonderfully supported by a loving wife at home as well as the support and wisdom of Cheryl here at the store…and I know that this all shall pass.
We all have so much to really be thankful for and we know it whether we feel like acknowledging it or not. Our hospital is operating and other hospitals are shutting in rural areas due to financial problems. We still have a local newspaper 5 days a week while newspapers are shuttering across the country. We have all of the essential workers in medicine, public safety, agriculture, grocery, and so many more…you know who you are and you know who they are…thank you all…words cannot express my gratitude for keeping us healthy and safe.
So I may be mentally tired but physically rested. Thank you to everybody who is both physically and mentally exhausted.