As we spend time preparing for our Thanksgiving festivities,the turkey, the sides, the massive assortment of pies and desserts that land on our tables across America… Our families rejoice in this feast and celebrate together the great things that keep us unified. To me, it is a one day holiday respite before the onslaught of the Holiday shopping season. From Black Friday to Christmas Eve, the holiday shopping season encompasses both holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah and the mad spree that fits in to those twenty seven or so days between Thanksgiving day and Christmas day. To the jewelry industry, it’s usually a make it or break it month. As I have written about before, December is the most important month of the business year.
The season ramps up at a fast and furious pace. The closer we get to December 24th, the business done and customer count becomes exponentially greater every day. It’s grueling, tiring and satisfying all at once. I usually love playing Santa Claus. Not this year. My exit meeting with Dr. Gooch at Jefferson was untenable. How was I supposed to take three months off of work? I know….my brain was severely traumatized. I know…the blood was still putting pressure in my skull. I know…the vibrations still occurring in my brain were no good. I know…the pain was unrelenting and distracting as well as the painkillers needed to help me. I know…that I had no other choice. Weather the storm. Work twenty seven days in a row. Suck it all up for the sake of your customers and your bottom line. There was no other way out. I had to do it. I am the business.
My first day back, Black Friday, was terrible.Lori had to drive me to work. I wasn’t allowed to get behind the wheel for a few weeks. Part of my recovery. Waiting on customers was brutal. My head was pounding, I couldn’t focus well and I was constantly speaking off key. Making stupid mistakes calculating pricing and discounts was a normal occurrence. My memory was minimal at best. Regular customers names eluded me. Luckily, everyone that came into the store really understood the situation and gave me a break. Nadine and Sheree just did their best to keep me propped up and representing. It was so hard. When the store was empty, I would crawl up in my office chair and close my eyes. I would remain like that as long as possible to rest my brain and get ready for the next wave. Needless to say, this was “The Christmas From Hell”.
As each day passed, I became weaker and weaker. I could barely keep my eyes open. The holiday grind would wear down the best of us. It was killing me. One day during the last week of the season, a young man, a regular customer, stopped in to let his wife pick out her Xmas gift. She was looking for a pair of diamond hoop earrings. I spoke to him while Nadine helped his wife choose her gift. He seemed down. Not his usual self. He explained to me that his father had just passed away. Two weeks before Christmas. How sad is that? He had a young son who wouldn’t get to know his grandfather. Just awful. “What happened”, I asked. His dad was only 62 years old. ” He collapsed at home with massive pain in his head. The ambulance came and took him to Nazareth hospital where he was diagnosed with a Subarrachnoid Hemorrhage. He was loaded into a helicopter and was on his way to Jefferson Neurological Hospital when he coded and passed in the air.” I listened intently to his story recounting the exact same reality that I had experienced only one month prior. For whatever reason, I was spared another mans fate and still alive and here to listen to this young man’s story. I was numb, lucky, blessed, all of the above. I didn’t recount my story to him. Survivors guilt overcame me once again.
As the season wore down and came to an end, I was a veritable vegetable. Completely worn out and down for the count. I would need weeks of down time after this ridiculous feat of stupidity. Nevertheless, I survived both the Brain injury and the Holiday season. It was time to heal now. Hopefully the damage to my brain didn’t get any worse. It may just take more time to get normal again. How long? Who knows. Could be years. My appointment at the Neurologist was around the corner. We shall see.
Next Up: 26 Years