February 04, 2005
Dawn At Creation
Dawn at Creation.... The January 2005 West Highcastle flow Kilauea Volcano Big Island Hawaii. HVO Photo
This Photo was taken this morning by an Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory photographer. We have been experiencing a huge increase in the size and visibility of the lava flow and the lava watchers are starting to flock to the island to catch a glimpse of this event. Three large ocean venting entries are flowing, and one is very close to the road where you can drive into the park so hordes of folks are coming into Hilo...
Makes all that VOG worth while...
Just as the eruption continues unabated, the eruption of customers at my shop continues thanks for your prayers and support. We are selling off nearly everything right down to the bear walls. Almost all of the fixtures and equipment is sold and we see a steady sale of the inventory. Its all God's doing as we have done more business in three days than in the past 4 months combined... Over 200 people have been in the store since the liquidation began...Feb 1
And Im doing it alone...I am about wiped out...Gads, its only Thursday?
Woody told his boss he was not available for the next few days and will be in to help me. Thank God... I am at the screaming stage.
Its so hard to see it all go... the little things that made the place special. Like the set ups and the lighting. Im not giving the inventory away yet, but it feels like it.
It hurts a lot. Im dismantling a dream... I want to scream sometimes at the callousness of some people... for the dirty little secret of this town is that they wait for this, haolies going broke and leaving, so they can get the "good stuff" cheap. Cars houses and furniture and stuff from business. Its like its a cottage industry. The phone calls that I have received regarding my furniture in the house are crazy. Ill ship it before I donate it to some household that wont appreciate it.
It gives me a perverse pleasure to deny some of my things to this greedy mass of humanity. People get mad when I say that I am not selling my golden lacquered pieces in the store. I have had 20+ offers all so foolishly low...I have been told by dealers not to sell the stuff as it is going up in value and the gold leafing is super good on my pieces... One Bi*ch, who has been in probably 50 times in the last year and has spent 20.00 with me, has often come and rubbed her hands on the desk or table and said in so many words "I covet this and must have it". She is a physical Therapist and has a good practice and a well off Local boyfriend... She has offered ridiculously paltry amounts for it...So typical of the mindset of greedy but well off locals that everything can be had for nothing when a haolie gives up and goes back where they belong... she came in yesterday with her daughter "to buy her a gift... pick something out, dear..." the daughter did well selecting a pair of gold hoop earrings that I had in 50% off...She was trying them on again and I gave her the price. They were less than 100.00. The Mom said 'no they were too expensive' and ended up buying HERSELF a pair of pearl dangles that were, like, the cheapest things in the store... came to 12.00 ( she moved up from her last purchase though, where I offered her a deal on a necklace and a pair of matching earrings, jadite in silver. Total deal was 50.00 The necklace was 42.00 and the earrings 25.00 originally. Her response was to pull 8.00 out and put in on the table, no tax, and try to walk out with the earrings, saying that "Well, if they are 8.00 in the deal that is all they are worth, why don't you give them to me for that price? We told her no. But she made such a stink and we were new in the building that we let it go. God honored that by showing us to mark up the necklace to 69.00 and a visitor lady bought it that week...) This time, she made me mad. She embarrassed the daughter, and the only reason she brought the daughter in was to see the furniture... She finally came and said "OK, you are going to the mainland, give me a price and I will pay you for the desk and the table and you wont have to move it. I didn't respond but went to the door and unlocked it...And thanked them for coming in. She got up and said "WELL?" I responded. " You don't have enough money to buy a gift for your daughter, therefore it is unlikely you have enough to pay for the furniture. This is the last time we will have this discussion, have a good afternoon and I closed the door. People clapped in the store...
Such drama makes for frayed nerves.
Most people are good hearted. We have had several visitors that came to us last year return to find the "going out of business sign" and bewail it with me. We have met some new friends during this time, Rodney Brewster and his partner L.E.Zerbe who have Pahoa's newest shop, which takes high end consignment. They have purchased my safe and front window case as well as setup pieces. And most importantly been encouraging which we sorely need. As they sat in the store for two hours they saw all sorts of little dramas and learned that jewelry was different than art or furniture and will be picking my brains a few more times for more info. I will be picking theirs too, as they have lived in different areas of the country and we can learn a lot from them.
I have had questions about our destination. The container with our belongings will final either in Houston or Bentonville. We still have time to decide but I think Houston is winning. I joked with the boys yesterday that we will end up on David Letterman with a huge map and a dart...Throw and see where you have to live.... the ultimate reality show...
This is not far off from the truth...
