Dear Diary,
Running the family business these last 37 years has had its share of ups and downs, but I have to say I love it here at Sea Harbor and plan on staying past retirement. I know I'll really never retire with a family-owned business. Besides, retirement is a death sentence. Ours may not be the biggest garden center in the area - we've had a lot of "big names" invade with their inferior product - but we provide the best service and highest quality nursery plants and trees as far as I'm concerned. We've always managed to get good help, and even if the kids we hired were a little rowdy when they started up, we whipped them into shape in short order. I'm a no-nonsense boss but I am fair. Some of the kids call me "Dad."
One in particular - Johnny W. Ever since his father died 7 years ago - a terrible tragedy - he's been pretty close to me. I've had him help me do clean up here in the nursery since he was a little boy. Good worker. Never misbehaved. That's why he's now my assistant manager. But I know something's wrong with him. He's been moody lately and that's just not him. Quiet, yes, but never moody. I try to talk with him when there's a lull. Of course, that's rare with so many landscape projects going on and him directing most of the business now.
Some young lady came in the other day and cornered Johnny when he was taking inventory of our overstock evergreens. She was yelling up a storm and I would've stepped in if there had been customers but we were about to close down for the day and no one was there but them two. Well, she said her peace and stormed off. Johnny just was staring off into space. I felt so sorry for the kid. Can't imagine he deserved that tongue lashing. But what do I know - I'm just an old man who's probably forgotten what hot-blooded kids get riled over.
I'm going to talk to him about it later. Don't want to play the interfering dad ...
Bernie