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NORMA’S UPDATE
February 13, 2010
Today is the 13th of February, 2010. It’s a special day. It’s the day before Valentine’s Day. It’s my big brother Terry’s 65th birthday today. Thirteen was our Dad’s lucky number! It has also been one year since I last updated Norma’s web site on February 8, 2009.
So today is a day for writing love letters…love letters that will be delivered tomorrow…on Valentine’s Day. Today I also had the honor and privilege of meeting with a friend and client of mine who lost her husband Jerry on February 3 to complications of cancer. I was meeting with Margie and her brother Ed to review the life insurance and IRA benefits that Jerry had put in place years ago to provide for Margie at the time of his passing. Jerry has left Margie very well provided for. I am very proud of Jerry!
It occurred to me today, on February 13, that Jerry wasn’t buying life insurance years ago…rather he was writing “love letters” to Margie…that I delivered to her today…the day before Valentine’s Day. A promise made many years ago. A promise kept today…for the remainder of Margie’s lifetime.
Two years ago, Norma was in an intensive care unit at UIC in Chicago, fighting for her life due to a brain aneurysm she suffered on February 8, 2008. Two years later, we were returning from a cruise on the Celebrity Solstice attending our annual N.S.S.E.A. (National School Supply & Equipment Association) winter conference in the warm and sunny Caribbean! Life is good…life is wonderful! We are blessed!
Norma is doing extremely well, even though she has been unable to return to work. Although she is able to enjoy social events and can single task with virtually no problems…she still becomes easily overwhelmed and fatigued with muli-tasking, prioritizing and problem solving – especially when time is of the essence. These are all very important attributes necessary to running and overseeing her four retail stores, our catalog business, and approximately 60+ employees…plus taking care of me…which would wear out most extraordinary people in no time at all! And speaking as a “guy”, I (we) can’t multi-task, prioritize, or problem solve either, even when time is not of the essence! (Can you spell…procrastinate)? So we have adapted and are doing very well.
We are blessed with excellent staff and they are doing a fantastic job of “sailing our ship”…even in this down economy. Joann Stockenberg is our General Manager who is doing an awesome job of overseeing all four stores and continues to also manage our “flagship” Crest Hill location. Jon Munson, our nephew, oversees everything coming in and going out of the warehouse including repairs and maintenance. Jan Blondin (Aurora), Gary Birnbaum (Batavia) and Cindy Jackowiak (Downers Grove) are doing a great job of managing their stores. Norma’s sister, Nancy Bonelli, makes sure that our bills are paid on a timely basis (much better than I used to do…can you spell…procrastinate)?! Lynn Fuller (Joann’s sister) continues to do a stellar job of employee product training for all our stores plus does her regular store duties at the Crest Hill location. And all our team members have stepped up for us and do a great job of customer service! Thank you to all!
The ultimate credit for this strength in our transition process must go to
Norma. She always empowered her
fellow workers to grow by allowing them to be creative, try new things and
ideas, make mistakes…and to learn from them.
She never micro- managed, rather she encouraged them and led by her own
example and wonderful work ethic.
She was and is simply marvelous! So
dear
est
Norma, “I love you for the woman you were when we met on October 18, 1968…and I
love you even more for the woman you are today”!
On June 13, 1989, Terry’s and my father, Don Ireland, passed away from heart related complications…he was only 65…the same age that Terry is today on February 13, 2010. As you may recall, I said at the beginning of my update that Dad’s favorite “lucky” number was 13. Many might say that 13 was not so lucky for him. On the contrary, the 13th day of June, 1989 was the best day of his life…as he entered into the kingdom of God! May God continue to bless all of you…and while you are still here, we pray you have time to write lots of love letters. Happy Valentine’s Day and God bless you! Thanks for caring!
Love,
Norma & Ken