FRIENDS AND CUSTOMERS

Big Jon, the one on my left, is moving to Eugene on Sunday. Today we went on farewell ride. I will see him again, for sure, as we have been friends for about 10 years. It has been long enough that I can't remember the year. I know it was before the remodel though. I  remember him in the old store. He was a young kid then (19 or so). Now he is a young man. He came in as a customer and is moving as a friend. You may recognize Damian on my right. He was brought in by Jon. Friendship is an interesting thing. Why do you connect with some people and not others?I really don't know that answer. We all love bikes (well so do most customers of our store), I have been married for well over 30 years these guys are single. They go out, I go to bed. But non the less we are friends. We joke, we laugh, we agree on most politics, they make fun of me being old I make fun of them being young. 

I like that my customers are my friends. I don't like to keep my business separate from my social life. That way at work is fun. I help my friends. It is always a pleasure to see their smiles and hear their laughs. I hope it is the same for them when they see me.

In the first year or so that I knew Jon he had a very bad bike accident. He was in local group ride when there was a pileup. He got the worst of it. His face was one big mess with most of his front teeth missing. I went to the hospital to see him. His jaw was wired and he had a hard time talking. I gave him a Sunnyside Jersey. He smiled and cracked some joke. I think that is what made us friends. Jon never blamed anyone and he was not bitter, nor did he feel a victim. He crashed, and then he recovered. He liked the fact that some bike store owner really took some interest to his life. I did and I do. Jon is a great guy. I am going to miss him in the store, seeing his face around town, and going on rides with him. Maybe he will move back when he is done with university. He talked about being a high school teacher. Why not in Bend. The kids here could use a guy like Jon around.

Good luck Jon and we hope to see you around.

Don