Coming to the end of a story should make the reader feel a little sad and wanting more.  That’s the mark of a good read.  The same can be said of most things in this life.  If you find yourself experiencing both a sense of pride and loss when it’s all over, you know it’s been a good run.

That’s just the way those of us who have been a part of the 122-year history of Trostel’s Furniture Store were feeling when the door was locked for the final time on Saturday, April 10.  And we’re agreed -- it’s been a very good run indeed.

During the six-week “going out of business” sale, hundreds of first-time visitors and long-time Trostel’s customers made their way to the corner of Main and Jefferson streets in search of a bargain and to see the old store in operation one last time.

Several times a day, Jane Slanker, (the store’s current owner and my very dear friend) and I, heard the lament from one customer after another, “I can’t believe you’re closing down after all these years.  It’s so sad!”

Many of them shared how that they have furnished their entire homes through Trostel’s more than once, or that they bought all of their furniture there when they first set up housekeeping forty or fifty years ago.  One sweet little lady sat on a sofa with me on Saturday morning and told me that she is still using furniture in her home that she bought at the store in the 1960’s.  “I don’t need a thing,”  she said, “I just wanted to come here and see the place again.”  We shared a brief hug, and I told her she was welcome to sit there a while longer.

That dear lady was only one of many from whom we received  hugs and testimonials over the past several weeks.  Most expressed concern about what might happen with Jane and me in the future and wished us well.  Their heart-felt words of support and encouragement have kept our spirits up and reminded us how much we are cared about.  I know I can speak on Jane’s behalf, as well as my own when I say how very much we have appreciated all those expressions of love and concern.  She and I may not know what directions we’ll each be taking with regard to future employment, but we’re not worried.  We know that we’ll be just fine and that we’ll always be friends.

As the last customers made their purchases and headed for the parking lot, I joined the group of store family and friends who had gathered in the nearly-empty building for burgers and reminiscing.  While we ate, we remembered -- when the roof leaked during hard rains, when the upstairs seemed to be haunted, when Jim taunted sales reps, and on and on and on.  Yeah, we laughed a lot and cried a little, but mostly we felt satisfied -- that we finished strong and brought no reproach upon the good name on the side of the building.

Walking to my car, I had a moment akin to George Bailey’s in “It’s a Wonderful Life” when he looks up and says warmly,  “Merry Christmas, you old building and loan.”  I didn’t say it very loud, but I believe my message was received as I looked fondly up at the stately old place and said, “So long, you old Trostel’s Furniture Store.  Enjoy your retirement.  You have earned it.”

Thanks for giving me a moment of your time.