End of an era

Hubby and I met when we were 15. As a junior in high school, he entered a vocational program to learn the printing industry at 16. Two years later after graduation he began working for various printing companies back in Ohio.

Then we moved to Alaska when we were 28.

For the first 9 months we were caretakers at a fish plant, wintering over and watching out for the boats on the property. To help make ends meet from a pretty meager salary, hubby moonlighted for a couple of different printers in the area.

Then in 1981 he bought his job - that is, he purchased the print shop he was working in at the time. In 1984 we purchased a building and moved the equipment from the rented space.

We never made much money, but the business served to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table, private school education for the girls, braces, glasses, medical and dental for all of us.

Today we passed on the legacy by signing over the papers and the business and equipment to another (younger) couple. We've retained the building for the meantime, but the business is no longer ours. They will be moving the equipment out beginning this weekend.

It's been a good long run - but we've (yes, we - I have spent some time running the various presses myself) come to the point that it is time - time to move on - time to get out of the business we grew up in, and raised our girls in - it's time. He entered the printing program 39 years ago last month.

And, now we can move on to other things and look forward to the years ahead of us.

Heads up! We're coming through.

>..<

Posted by Purplemoose at October 12, 2005 05:25 PM