Tammi's World

A Real ROAD Warrior Day

I'm so tired. Really, that's probably the understatment of the year for me, but it's the best I can come up with.

Traveled to SW Florida to visit some of my stores down there, to apologize for the lack of service they've seen lately, to let them know I appreciate their continued support and to make sure everyone was doing alright after Charley's little visit.

The visits themselves went very well. The first two stores are made up of long term employees. They know their stuff and really make me think when I'm in there. I like that! Plus, to me it speaks volumns that in a retail enviroment the turnover in this account is so very small. Good managers make good sales people. I wish I could spend more time down there.

The only really thoughtless thing I did - I dropped my cell phone when getting out of the car. Yeah, it was pouring, I mean pouring. I gather my stuff together and my mind is on a million things. Open the door, get the umbrella up and stand up. WTF?? Oh Shit. There goes my pretty new picture phone floating down the raging river that has developed in the parking lot. So there I go, oversized golf umbrella, bag-o-shit slipping off my shoulder, skirt and heels, chasing this damn phone through the pouring rain. I finally caught up with it (no I didn't fall) and made it inside. The phone is ruined. And No, before you ask, I didn't have the insurance. I know, stupid stupid stupid. But I didn't have the money at the time I bought it and every penny counted. Oh it still counts, I'll just be counting it out for the new cell phone.

After visiting the two southern most stores we headed north to Port Charlotte. Port Charlotte took a very heavy hit when Charley blew through and it was a sobering sight, to say the least. I couldn't take pictures since the dropsy episode, and for that I am sorry. Let me see if I can even begin to describe what I saw, heard and smelt.

The closer we got to the area the worse the smell was. Even in the car with the windows up and air circulating It Stunk. It smelled like shit. It WAS Shit!! That and the Gulf of Mexico had been so stirred up that everything from the bottom was on top, the beach had dead fish and kelp....it just stunk. I have seen a lot of damage around here - but nothing like I saw in Port Charlotte. First thing that struck me was the piles and piles of trash. Insulation from buildings, siding, carpet, you name it, it was piled up. Then, as you're driving through business districts you see hand painted signs declaring that they are Open For Business!!! Signs offering free ice and water. Every where power crews scrambling to restore electric. Roofs being repaired, even as it rained. Blue tarps were everywhere, trying to keep the damage to a minimum. Everywhere you look, vehicles with ladders. Texas, Illinois, Georgia. Everyone had that dazed, exhausted look. But there was something else in their eyes. Determination. And Gratitude. At one point I hear a woman on the radio call in and request Lee Greenwoods, Proud to Be An American to thank all those that have come down to help the victims of Charley. Geez, that started the tears to really flow.

We pull up to what used to be my customer's store. It's a tent now. These people are working out in this heat and humidity, dealing with storms almost daily, using port-a-potties with no niceities what so ever, and they greet ME with a smile. They thank ME for coming. I've never been so humbled. I just shook their hands and told them how sorry I am. I'm so sorry you have to go through this. PLEASE tell me if I can help. I left all of my pens there - I was supposed to share with the stores in Orlando, but these folks didn't have any pens!! I think the other stores would understand. I dug through my back seat and found some pads of paper, so I left those. I found a couple of "gifts" from a while back and left those too. Heck, I even checked out the magic trunk to see what I had. Sometimes it really pays to never clean out your car.

We stayed and chated with everyone for a while before heading back to Orlando. I just cannot express the class, courage and fortitude these people showed.

The drive home was a long 4 hours. Especially without a phone. I think that's the longest I've been without the opportunity to talk to SOMEONE in over 2 years. But I got a lot of thinking done. I thought about some posts I'd like to do. I thought about my business and what I need to do there. I thought about my friends and family and any number of other things. Even with the raging storm (yes another one!) and the insane traffic, I got a lot of thinking done.

But my final thought when I pulled into my driveway was how good it was to be home, and how very lucky I am.

Posted by Tammi at August 26, 2004 07:35 AM