Spring 2020
The Duck Bill,
March 20, 2020
I have to say that when I knew the purchase of The Town Duck was imminent --that my husband Max and I would be entrusted with a solid and fiery torch, that we would close and then re-open the doors (literally and figuratively) in a timely two weeks--one of the things which weighed on me the most was how I might begin to communicate my intentions to a group of tried and true, loyal and dear, beloved set of friends and customers that not only were we up for the challenge, but humbled to be here and fully accept it….cue the bubbles!!
But perhaps I should begin by saying mid-March 2o2o, two weeks to the day of our presumed grand re-opening (following the closure of a chapter of The Town Duck under Annette Johnson not to be soon forgotten!) was also supposed to look and feel a bit different. Don’t get me wrong. Much to the thanks of a dedicated, selfless and fun team of the most decent humans I have had the privilege of encountering, my vision began to come to life. Orders from a trip in February to market arrived , wallpaper was hung, and a point of sale system installed. Our parents and children have met us with a smile and “sure” at every turn, not missing a beat and knowing that dinner would be late most evenings and days would be filled at the shop while we work—an example of temporary gusto and fortitude, perseverance and poise! Full steam ahead and eager to join the ranks of other Warrentonian merchants, the wind was not to be taken from our sail. And yet at a certain point the punch list became indirectly proportionate to an unexpected variable—at first a whisper, and then a more definitive message that business would not operate as usual. For first-time small business owners, you can imagine the anxiety, lack of perspective and the inherent challenges this could present.
Over the past few days I have hovered between being at a complete, cosmic loss —a stillness which ruffles me more when I jog and see fewer cars, fewer passerby’s, less dogs lazily traversing the sidewalks—countered and buoyed by a strong and palpable sense of neighbors within this community that are tirelessly delivering wares and food curbside to keep the vitality of Main Street alive and to quell the fears that creep up in all of us. I realize that despite the timing of our particular venture (is there ever a good time?) amidst the chaos and concern we are all feeling, that this is EXACTLY where we are supposed to be, what we are meant to be doing, and how we are going to roll it out. So here goes…thank you for the pass of the baton, Annette, and for those who have made us feel like we might have a chance after all.