Up in my neck of the woods, there is only one main highway, Hwy 11, that runs past our little antique store and motel and towing service. This year, starting in early May, major road construction began on Hwy 11, with detour signs put up several miles away in both directions. Talk about nothing but the sound of crickets! I've seen more activity in end-of-the-world sci-fi t.v. movies!

Rather than sit on the porch of the store, like Ma & Pa Kettle, day after day for 3 months wasting electricity in the store, we decided to close the store for the duration. It was a hard decision, but what else could we do? We put up a large sign on the door telling people they could call us to open the store or call to set up an appointment. Who's going to see the sign anyway? So we set about getting done all the things we've put off doing for so long due to no time.

Well, believe it or not, people have wound their way around back roads, county roads, gravel roads, and our little towns roads, THEN drove through a field to get to our store!!! It's hilarious! It's also a testament to the perseverance of antique and collectibles lovers. Does nothing stop our kind?!? Apparently not!! Oh, sure. I've stood in the rain at my share of auctions, or driven many miles in sub-zero temps in bad weather to get to an auction house. But NO ROADS?

I have to say, if you deduct the utilities we would have paid if the store were open, we're not that far off the $ mark! And the customers don't care if they have to wait a bit while we drive up on the mower, or finish up at the farm, or, well, anything. They want what they want, and that seems to be it.

Every time someone calls we're pleasantly surprised, and gladly stop what we're doing, or finish up faster, to open the store for them. And, I think the torn up roads make them more likely to decide on the spot to purchase. Instead of "Well, I'll have to think about that lamp." , they're all about "If I don't get it now, I might not be able to get here later.". Which, I might point out, begs to ask...How in the world did you even get here today?

I love these people! There can't possibly be a more fun group of people then, customers With Sticktoitiveness!

Written by Elizabeth Allison

The Other Place, ABC Shop on Ruby Lane