The State of Things, 2 Years In

This coming week will mark two years of pandemic life. While our country may not be masking currently, and while our kids are back in school predictably and workers are back on site, life still is not normal, that's for sure. When I look back two years ago at the blog and read and remember what life was like, I can't feel anything but grateful that we all made it through healthy, we are happy, and we are all pretty much back to life as "normal", whatever that means. Even if it's a new, more difficult and anxious normal. It was a total question mark at the time.

Before I go further, I do want to share that we are still masking in our shop and have hand sanitizer at the door and wipes at Check Out during our open hours. Each person that comes in is wearing a mask (and we have them right inside the door for you should you not have one on you). After two years of this, we are not quite comfortable taking them off when serving people up close. Not only for our own selves, but I get e-mails regularly from immunocompromised people asking what precautions we are taking. And I want to be as respectful to all in my own little space, and I'm glad that you all are OK with me taking this extra precaution. Give us a couple more weeks and we'll see where COVID numbers are in Indiana and how we feel before we peel them off, okay? Thx!

I'd say as a mom, partner, business owner, daughter, friend, etc.... my biggest life change and role change has definitely been as a business owner. What I do and how I do it has changed so drastically in the past two years that it's unrecognizable from what I thought I would be doing as a yarn shop owner. People often ask how wonderful it is to play with yarn and knit all day. And while I'll admit that 17 years ago when I started putting my business plan together at the ripe age of 26, that's what I was thinking about. But there hasn't been one day in as many years that I've spent the day working with yarn or knitting. I've knit in the shop less times than I can count on a hand, and all were during in-shop KALs. But what I do get to do is be surrounded by over 16 tons of fibery beauty every day and I do get to open huge boxes of yarn like it's the most extravagant Christmas morning. That's one of the best parts of my job, waiting for a huge shipment from one of my fave or a new dyer and opening it up and seeing what it all really looks like.

How I do business is vastly different. Doing business is a lot more work for the same return. I spend a lot more time trying to figure out social media, algorithms, importing issues, Customs rules, and more financial and web tech problems than ever. I can completely understand why SO MANY yarn shops have closed in the past two years. The yarn shop landscape is so different than it was pre pandemic. The hobby shops (you know, the ones that were more fun than business) have all but closed, and those that are left are ones that have a real strategy in place to keep up with the ever changing landscape. And not to judge at all the yarn shops that were open to have fun and were only around when things were easier- they are the ones I grew up on. But none of those that I bought from two decades ago are open anymore. And, ultimately, my job is to make the hard decisions and work the crazy hours so that I can stay open and pay myself and my team and be there for those that have supported us. I don't do anyone one any good if I don't think of this as a business person first. I think a lot of people get into business thinking it's one thing, and maybe it is for a decade or more. But then things change so drastically that someone has to consider if they really want to pivot that much or if it's time to retire/sell/start something new. Do you know someone personally that closed up shop during this time? They decided that it was just too much, too fast and not worth it anymore? I'd love to read your take in the comments. And if you have questions for me, feel free to ask in the comments too. A lot of people have questions about what its like to run a business during this unprecedented time, and I'm happy to share.

There have been good things that came out of the past two years too. I've been able to keep my shop running, supplying a niche market with a way to make us happy during a pandemic, that my staff has been paid just as consistently and been able to work around their families' changing schedules, and that we have all stayed safe. I've been able to provide small dyers and makers a way to stay home and work during a very financially precarious time. And it's not just me. You all have done this too. By shopping with us, you've helped so many people and an entire industry and dozens of families grow stronger roots, during a pandemic. It really is something.

As far as my family goes, in the past two years we have done well in the midst of setbacks and hardship. We are as close as ever. In the beginning of the pandemic I really enjoyed the months of staying home, not having outside obligations and engagements, spending more time with Terry and the kids, cooking (and learning to make cocktails) and playing games and watching movies and knitting and reading. Of course, there was a lot of annoyance and frustration (schooling at home?!?), but I seem to have forgotten the bad parts. 14 year old James and 9 year old Henry are both healthy and happy and back to life as "usual." James is goalie of his soccer team, is getting decent grades, starts golf next month, is on the musical set crew. He starts high school in the fall. HIGH SCHOOL. He gave Henry wise advice last night at dinner on how to get a 300 page book done.... and I thought, who is this kid? He's learned so much about himself and is giving school advice to his little brother! Henry is still my snuggler and little Love. He plays on two basketball teams, has a solo in his school's upcoming concert at the FAME Festival next weekend, is playing volleyball and is a wonderful friend to so many. These two boys are just some of the best humans I know. Me? I work a lot. Way more than I should. But I can work weird hours, which allows me to go on field trips and class parties, volunteer on the lunch crew at the kids' school, help coach 3rd grade volleyball (Henry's team), cook dinner, etc. My kids have no real idea really how hard and how much I work because I do most of it when they are asleep or at school or with friends. I'm doing a Career Day presentation at the high school later this month and I thought if the kids go and hear about what I really do, they would be totally shocked. They have no clue that my job isn't mainly Mom. This year I'm going to focus more on myself. I've spent two years giving giving giving and while it kept our family good, I am feeling every bit like a woman who hasn't taken care of herself. Most adults I know feel the same. I was in an air cast for four months of 2021, and I'm so glad to finally be back at life full force, playing volleyball, walking with little pain. But being immobile really caused a lot of unhappiness for me in 2021 and I have to get back to taking care of me. I have a great partner in Terry, and we've been playing volleyball, seeing friends and family, and really enjoying the past few months. I can't wait until warm weather so we can really get out and explore more!

How are you all doing? It's been awhile since I have checked in. I really enjoy catching up with many of you in person, seeing how your kids have grown in the past two years, seeing your finished projects, hearing about new grand babies, new jobs, new homes..... ALL the stuff. But when I don't see you in person I still want to know! I enjoy the e-mails I get to catch up, but I love comments here too. Please do share how your life is after two years of all this. I hope you're well.

Comments

[Kathy]

I can’t believe the FAME Festival is still going on! We lived in Auburn from 1988-1996, our youngest son had art work that was selected for the festival! We went to the symphony after viewing the art. Memories…

[Angeli]

Knitting keeps me sane, busy, peaceful and in good health, despite the two years of very hard times for everyone, I just hunkered down and mind my own business. Glad to see some light in the end of the tunnel, however slow, it is still some progress. Many things can be written about this past 2 years, I find the virtue of patience and holding onto hope would eventually get us out of the trenches to see the sunlight. Be patient, my friends.

[Anonymous Please]

I used to be an epidemiologist and took off a decade to raise my three kids. I was feeling depressed about not working in public health during the pandemic. I started a job search, but ultimately went in a different direction. I'm now employed at a very large university in clinical trials research, and I love my team and enjoy what I do. The restoration of my self-esteem has been the best part. I'm feeling more like me again. My kids have adapted to that big change very well.

Remote school was great for one of my kids and terrible for the other two. One of them is still having academic issues.

I am trying to be more assertive about my own health also. I've had insomnia since just before the pandemic started, and I've been advocating for me when things don't work. I still don't have it under control, but I'm not afraid to speak up when a medication isn't giving me any benefit.

One of our bricks-and-mortar LYSs closed for good, one closed for a while then reopened in a different location with a different business model, and one stayed through and didn't change.

At this point, I 90% prefer online shopping!

[Denise]

Hi there. I really appreciate your blog and the stuff you write about. I have been working at home for a few years now, and I don't love it every day. I miss people! I have enjoyed your blog throughout the last 2 years and you are my go to online store. I know small businesses have had it tough but I am so glad you handle your business as a business and you are still around where others may have closed. Thank you for your openness and your great yarn.

[Donna]

Don’t know how I missed this blog post. But I just noticed you mention 14 year old James. Wow! I’m pretty sure you were about 5-6 months pregnant with him when I started buying from Simply Socks. After a short while you became my primary & often only source for yarn. I buy elsewhere only when you don’t carry what I need, a testament to your skill & hard work as a businesswoman.
I love when you post about your family. It makes me feel like a little part of it - as if you’re a distant cousin or niece who updates me occasionally. It’s a nice feeling. You’re getting to the stage where you begin to reap the rewards of parenting. I don’t understand why teens have such a negative reputation. It’s my favorite age for kids. They are no longer mostly parroting our ideas & ideals but beginning to figure out their place in the world & having their own ideas. I still remember the thrill of a meal I had with my younger daughter when she was about James’s age (maybe a year older). I can’t remember why it was just the 2 of us but we went to a restaurant & had dinner while discussing current events. It was so exciting to get a glimpse of what she’d be like as an adult (& she’s exactly how I pictured her then - she’s your age).