Forty Years Ago

The High School he attended in Vancouver offered a semester system by which one could select the courses to graduate in January, rather than June. Being part of a family that emigrated from Paraguay 5 years earlier; he had done his time, learning a new language and adapting to North American teen culture. It was not easy being the target of humiliation at this age, but he took it in stride and managed the requirements to graduate as soon as he could.

His older brother, who had come to Canada ahead of the family and started his own family and business just out of Vancouver, invited him to room and board with his young family, while helping out by doing pick ups and installations. This was a good start. He would save some money before making further decisions about schooling.

As we now know, it turned out that life on the job became his education.  Starting at the bottom gave him a good knowledge of every aspect of the job, while attending design and trade shows gave inspiration and knowledge of how to keep up with the times.

One of his earliest experiences of helping some customers in the store brings back a smile now as he tells me how two obviously ethnic Mennonite women came into the showroom. Speaking in German, one commented to the other, “Do you think this good-for-nothing knows anything?” Upon which he commented back in German, “Yes, this good-for-nothing does.” It probably took a few years for him to realize that his long hair and jean jacket lacked some professionalism, so in the meantime these women high tailed out of there very quickly.

I remember his first business trip to Toronto, a couple of years into the job, during the time when we communicated by snail mail and I’d check for his letters after school. Whether he was across the country or at home, the letters went back and forth on a weekly basis, providing me with updates on what he was doing at work and telling me how much he missed me.

For our wedding gift, his brother booked us tickets to Hawaii. This opened a whole new appreciation for travel, which happened to be one of the perks that suppliers often gave as incentives for sales. His boss also came up with a few of his own, which eventually promoted him to sales manager and then to general manager. It was evident that he had found his niche.

In 1985 his brother offered to sell the business to him. It really was quite surreal, to think of continuing the family business in this way, but if there was any fear in this, he did not show it.  He had proven himself to be able to run the business and was up for the challenge of paying it off, feeling a keen sense of satisfaction in that and the privilege of providing jobs for others.

Forty years. How does one even imagine that length of time at one job? In some ways it does not seem like the same job.  As economics, styles, fashion or technology dictated a continual change in course, he adapted, enlarging and downsizing according to the times. It is interesting to see now that, while some people choose a career, he made something of what was in his hand.  Nothing was ever too low for him to do or too lofty to aspire to.

Honey, today I want to honour you and thank you, for the way you have provided for your family. I poked through some old letters of long ago and read of how you were concerned about how you would ever be able to afford to buy land to build a house on.  It was not a toy or a nice car you were concerned about getting, it was a home for your family. You have not only done that, but we have not lacked any good thing. There have been hard times, and mistakes made too, times when you could have just given up, but you always thought about those you loved. You sacrificed your time and energy for them in ways they will never know; always believing that where there is a will, God will provide a way.

The ride with you, beginning as a nervous teen coming along as your date, has been one I would never have been able to imagine. I count my blessings in all of this. In many ways, time has told the end of the story already; a story about your willingness to take from God's hand in the good and the hard times and to walk humbly in His ways. This I admire. You are a good man. I love you.

You have made  known to me the path of life;
 You fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasure at your right hand.
Psalm 16:11

PS As much as I value and appreciate comments from everyone, I would ask that family and friends remember to keep congrats and comments in line with the anonymity of this post. Thank you.