Friday, June 5, 2009

Shoppe Girl

I know I've mentioned LaLa's shop before. It's a place that holds many, many memories and feelings for me. It used to be my grandfathers shop. Although most of my memories are of my grandmother Frances and LaLa Pat. I have memories of my grandmother typing in the office, giving me exciting rides down the isles on hand trucks, and her testing sound equipment. "Testing 1-2-3..." Sometimes she sang into the mic, using her stage voice, the sounds echoing through that enormous space. Ahh! Gives me chills to recall her voice and her delivery of "You Made Me Love You!"

Even before my grandfather passed the reins to my aunt, I recall her orchestration of the shop and overseeing all aspects of the manufacture of the sound equipment. Over time, I've seen her wear all the hats. From designing and bringing to market new products, cutting wood, drilling metal, hiring and training employees, ordering, customer service, etc., etc., etc. All the while parenting, and eventually caring for my grandparents as the aged and eventually passed away.

So the shop holds a lot of stories for me. The biggest one is about possibilities.

5 comments:

Kristin said...

It looks like such an interesting place to explore. I bet your daughter will remember it fondly too.

Cher Mere said...

that story makes me happy.

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

What a history! Beautiful photos. Annie looks like she was having a wonderful time.

Blue Sky Dreaming said...

Now I can see what is so often referred to as the "shop" by Pat. A family business...as you said holds rich memories and continues in Annie's life.

Phyllis said...

What a beautiful tribute! Now I truly feel I know Pat a little better. What a remarkable woman she is...very strong and capable of so many things, immensely talented. She is quite modest in her blog. One would never know these things about her. I wish I had a chance to meet her. I probably would be a little in awe of her.

It seems like a family history that is solid, admirable, and full of some pretty special people. I loved knowing Pat a little better.