It was April or early May in 1999 –

I was in my office at the American-Olean-Dal-Tile Co. –

Olean, N.Y. The phone rang –

and the operator said I had an outside call – please hold while I connect you.

It was Christine from store number 159 – Alexandria, Va.

One of the largest revenue stores in the country.

She offered me a job –

knowing that Sherry had been offered and was about to accept a manager job –

in Dulles, Va.

We talked about money and what I would be doing!

Then I told her I would accept under one critical condition to me!

I would TRANSFER within the company bringing all my services –

time and vacation with me AND-

I wanted no responsibility in management – ( she would later try to get me to rescind)

I would give her over 100% effort –

but I wanted to retire in the next 15 years

and just work eight hours a day!

I would be an employee whom she did not have to coach to do the job –

I would lead by example-

but would issue no orders to anyone.

Within two months we sold our home in Portville, N.Y.,

and were living in the middle of –

OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA –

Sherry was the manager of 222 in Dulles – right across from the airport –

and I was just outside D.C. in Springfield, Va. near the Pentagon.

I had gone to work for SSC 159 – Alexandria –

one of the biggest revenue centers in the country –

For American-Olean-Dal-Tile Companys.

I had just turned 50 years old in 1999 –

before we left for Va. and the Washington, D.C. area.

It was a whole new world for both of us –

Sherry was her own boss and took that store from

just under One million dollars in sales to between six and seven million dollars in sales.

Garnering President’s award along the way-

and recognition for her style and energy –

and customer relations –

building sales to one of the fastest-growing SSCs in the country.

ME – I was very happy –

learning a whole new system geared to fulfill customers’ orders –

I was given the hours of 5AM to 2PM.

Opening the store – and getting the orders from a truckload that came in overnight –

for customers who showed up at 7:30 AM. to pick up!

By myself – I unloaded 12 to 14 truckloads a week –

broke them down and put them away.

I learned the computer –

and received each item I checked in and the location after I put it away.

This was for a store that grew from 12 million a year in sales to 17 million in sales in the first two years I was there!

That is a lot of tile to check in and take care of.

I was working in my area when the first plane hit the Twin Towers –

we had a TV in the main counter area.

We gathered around the front desk to watch.

It was 9-11

2001 and I was in the Alexandria – 159 SSC just outside Washington, D.C.

I do not know how long we were standing there in disbelief –

But – A large Shadow crossed over the parking lot outside –

and some customers and employees came inside=

and said a large plane had flown over the building and parking lot –

very low to the ground!

And then a newsbreak and alert –

A PLANE HAD JUST FLOWN INTO THE PENTAGON – just a mere few miles from us.

Tramatised – we all stared at the TV.

We were under attack and then the fourth plane went down in Pa.

We were told to go home and we closed down the store

I made the 45-minute drive back to Fairfax where we had bought a townhouse.

I know where I was on 9-11 -2001 –

I also know where I was the day JFK was assassinated –

and we also experienced the DC SNIPER for weeks –

and I have vivid images of that time –

We were right in the middle of all the shootings.

I remember in the days after the Twin Towers –

and the Pentagon and the field in Pa.

It was very eerie going outside and walking –

no planes in the air except for the military jets leaving their presence in trails across the sky!

But these happenings will be another blog –

For today – my 9-11 occurred right outside D.C.

I shall take that memory with me to the grave.

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – ON 9-11, I WAS JUST A FEW MILES FROM THE PENTAGON!