Don't ask me. It's like going to the gym or AA meetings or anything else that makes you feel good.
Stop doing it and it's so hard to get going again.
But I'm gonna give it a go. Play catch up.
Iwentontwovacations,atelotsoflobster,readtoomanybooks,walkedablisteronthebottomofmy footinP'Town,sawsunsets,sundowns,sufferedthroughhottestmosthumidsummer,lostplants,
lostornamentalplumtree,livedonhardboiledeggs,avocadotoastandmelon,helpedstopagunstorefromopening.
Wait, this deserves it's own time and space.The gun store did NOT open in August.
The community made such a loud and constant noise that the landlord gave up. He owns a hair salon on the same block and his business was over. Kaput. Day after day he and the other hairdressers sat there, day after day no one came, well except to complain or to drop off a letter telling him why they weren't coming.
He kept telling me he had made a mistake but what could he do. He had a lawyer, he got another lawyer, the gun shop had an NRA lawyer. I would go to the NRA website and read about the far left liberals who were attempting to stop this former Marine from fulfilling his life's dream. a second store with more room to stock assault weapons.
When you are mentioned by name twice on such a website it makes your eyeballs spin around in your head.
Then the fateful day arrived, the owner got his permit from Richmond, the capital of Virginia. he was now licensed to sell guns in Arlington.
He brought the letter to the landlord and waved it in his face and asked what he was going to do about it.
The landlord did the right and honorable thing, he bought him out of his lease. And then he made two signs that looked like they were drawn by schoolchildren. They had smiley faces all over them and the words "no guns".
The town went wild! People came racing onto the block jubilant. They went into all the stores hugging and congratulating all of us who had dodged the bullet.....literally.They honked and waved as they drove past. Not a week goes by that someone doesn't come into the store and say how happy they are about the outcome.
So many people told me you can't fight the NRA, they have lawyers, guns and money.
But we had heart and soul on our side.
And in a rare instance of justice, we won.
Now that's a happy ending!
theresnosuchthingastoomanybooks. welcomebackwemissedyou.
ReplyDeleteAlison in St. Paul,MN
Bigsmileonfacenow. Xo
Deleteso glad you're back! glad you had a good summer.
ReplyDeleteSo jealous, I mean glad to read that you've retired!
DeleteThat is a happy ending! As is the sight of you popping up in my RSS feed reader;).
ReplyDeleteHappy to be back. Missed everyone.
DeleteSuch a great story!!!
ReplyDeleteBasn wanting to write this since July. Whew.
DeleteWhat brilliant news,both that you're back and there's to be no gun store!
ReplyDeleteXoxo
DeleteVery impressive, Jane!
ReplyDeleteSue! How do you do? Nice to see you again.
DeleteCongratulations, you did it! This story should go viral, take that NRA!!!!!!!. Vacay sounds whirlwindy fun. Glad you're back. Now that wasn't so hard was it?
ReplyDeleteNo, not hard at all. All it took was opening my keyboard and writing hi. Now I'll probabl overshare!
DeleteReally pleased for you! And glad you've had a good summer
ReplyDeleteJx
Best news! And thank you, hope you did also.
DeleteWow - that is an amazing outcome! And so glad you're back - your blog is one of the first I check every morning.
ReplyDeleteThen I better get writing!
DeleteHurray to the community in your town and the good cause!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Jane! Good to see your new post.
Happy weekend ahead!
Madelief x
Thank you Meadelief, Lovely to be back.
DeleteCongratulations!!! So happy you were able to stand up to the NRA and win...it shows it can be done.
ReplyDeleteIt can be done. Takes a village...and cash.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteResult!!! Sometimes life is fair.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to the blogosphere. Now tell us about the cats? x
Thank you dear Rachel. You tell us about the grandchild and I'll be happy to brag on the cats.
DeleteHe's there on my blog, yawning his little head off. Such a sweet little thing, with the loudest hiccups I've ever heard from a small being. Four days with him just wasn't enough. Hoping to go back soon to visit, but have to be here for now.
DeleteI'm so glad you're back...I've been worried something bad was going on :(
ReplyDeleteHow awesome the gun shop is a threat no more :)
It was a challenging summer in many ways but I'm so glad I'm back. This is another important community for me.
DeleteWOW! Well it's been worth waiting a while to have you return to blogging with this great news. I'm from a different country, a different culture, and the gun rights in America are completely beyond me. Congratulations to all concerned for their efforts and success in stopping the gun shop. A case of David and Goliath!
ReplyDeleteAnd welcome back to Blogland, Jane, I've missed you. (:-) -X
I´m glad you are back :) and with good news.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!!
welldoneandsopleasedtohavemyfavouritebloggerbackintopform.
ReplyDeletewelldoneandsopleasedtohavemyfavouritebloggerbackintopform.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you're back!! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd supper happy to read that the shop neighborhood is staying a gun-free zone! Power to the people!
welcome back janie! hopefully you are rested and ready to write! x
ReplyDeleteYay to your return, another yay to the gun store's departure!
ReplyDeleteworthy bloggin fodder. Very happy to see you post. What the heck else have you been up to?
ReplyDeleteExcellent news! Margaret Mead: "Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have."
ReplyDeleteYou were busy doing a very good thing. Congratulations to all concerned in that victory.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back. And YAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBravo!
ReplyDeleteBut...why wasn't this in my RSS feed. Hmmm. Weird. Anyway... Bravo!
ReplyDeleteWell, you made me cry. Well done, lady.
ReplyDeleteOh yea, oh yes, oh yahoo,
ReplyDeleteIt's YOU, Mizz Jane.
As with the other commenters, I'm so happy to see you back. And huge Congrats on your moral & ethical victory re: the gun store.
Best always,
Diane in the other Arlington
(Mass) where the hydrangeas grow
Like trees and yellow, brown and gold
Chrysanthemums are "le fleur de jour."
And the gorgeous grandchildren grow
like the proverbial weeds.