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Chapter Four
Hannah
May 2nd…
Getting the grands and Seymour settled was pretty easy, all things considered. I’m beginning to realize the older you get, the less nonsense you accept and you know what you want and what you don’t.
My grandma and Peter each figured out fairly quickly where they wanted their respective belongings placed in their rooms and had no trouble letting go of items they no longer felt was necessary to keep.
They benefitted by doing so and did the same for the people that might gain them because of it. The younger generations can definitely learn a thing, or ten, from those who came before us. For example, every night, the four of us eat dinner at the table. No matter what we’re doing, we stop and take our seats. Grandma insists that nothing brings people closer than sharing a meal. Adding to that, Peter declared that we must state one thing about ourself that the others might not know.
Which is how I learned that Seymour traveled the world as a photographer for an international magazine. Apparently, when he was in the Army, even more new information, he started snapping pictures as a hobby, wanting mementoes of the places he’s been, the people he’s met, and so forth. Somebody, that being his grandpa, sent a particularly thought-evoking one in for a contest. Seymour’s was selected and he was offered an internship, allowing him to apprentice under their man at the time. It was great timing as he’d decided not to re-up, choosing to take an honorable discharge. This guy taught Seymour everything he knew and encouraged him to trust his instincts. Reminded Seymour that they’d gotten him to that point, proving they were sound.
While not famous per se, Seymour has reached the level in his career that his employer pretty much gives him free rein, providing minimal supervision as long as he delivers. Which, it seems, he always does.
Next to those accomplishments, I admittedly felt a bit underwhelming, but upon sharing that I started my business from nothing and made it into a highly visited website with people booking orders months out, my self-esteem got a heavy dose of pride in myself and I snapped out of the mini-funk.
After that meal, he’d wanted to see my stuff and asked for the name to search for it. Google promptly delivered and Seymour was off. Having been ridiculed for my company in the past – When are you gonna get a real job? Must be nice to do arts and crafts instead of actually working. – his praise was a balm to my bruised heart and ego.
I explained the various things I make, which includes custom domino sets as well as those for chess, he requested one of the latter for Peter’s upcoming birthday. According to Seymour, they played regularly when he was younger and continued the tradition whenever he was deployed. Thanks to technology, they were able to video call the other and use their respective boards, mirroring each move to keep them current. Seeing how much those memories meant to him, and I have no doubt to Peter as well, I agreed, keeping to myself the part about not charging him for it. That will be my present to both of them.
In addition to those, I also make numerous types of jewelry, personalized mugs, blankets, and so forth. Lately I’ve been branching out into keepsake necklaces, those that can contain a loved one’s ashes, a lock of baby hair, and so forth.
I have so many ideas and not enough time to do them, but I’m determined to try. Once they’re ready to be revealed, if they don’t sell well, I move on and try something else. One that, thankfully, became a huge hit is making various stuffed animals using pieces of clothing that’s important to that particular customer.
That led to me branching out, creating an apron from the ties of that person’s now deceased father. The reactions to both were amazing and they’re now two of my best sellers.
I freaking love what I do.
My inventory for the fair is probably bigger than I need it to be, but whatever is left will save, allowing me to use it for orders through my site.
Grandma found an old picture of her and Peter from their high school years and asked if I could restore it, time and the elements being unkind to it. I’ve done this a few times, though never for my own family, so I’m excited to do it because there’s a personal connection. It’ll give me more of a glimpse into the girl my grandma used to be versus the woman she became.
Honestly, not only because of what it’ll mean to her and him, there’s also the fact that any way I can expand my services increases my opportunity for longevity. Grandma thinks I’m there already and has been low-key encouraging me to open a shop here while still accepting online orders.
It’s definitely a thought I’ve been considering since she mentioned it, except I want to see how my booth does, then go from there. It could be a bust, making this town not my target audience for what I provide.
Which happens. You have to find your niche not only in what you make but where you can sell it. As awesome as it would be for that to include my new town, it may not and I have to brace myself for that possibility.
Along with the one that means Seymour could be leaving at any point for an assignment that could take him who knows where for who knows how long. He hasn’t flat out said that he quit and is done with traveling. In the same vein, he hasn’t said that he isn’t either.
Can a man that’s seen so much really be content in a small town? What could I, err it, offer him that’s better than going to places people dream about?
Maybe these are things we should’ve discussed before moving in together.
