Continuity
In years past Bonnie and I have spent a lot of money at Suncoast Video -- a national video sales chain that occupies space in malls. Ever since their sale to the same company that owns Best Buy, the chain has been in decline, and more than a year ago the local store near us closed. It was a sad day.
While I had no illusions of having a relationship with the corporate entity that owned the store, I was friendly -- on a first name basis, actually -- with most of the staff. And I genuinely liked them. They were movie geeks, to be certain. My kinda people. The kind of people who you could describe an obscure scene to or quote some dialogue to and they'd know instantly what movie you were looking for. Which, not coincidentally, I'm sure, was the focus of a Suncoast TV ad campaign one year.
The way in which the store closed was most abrupt. Their lease was up for renewal, and the company didn't renew it -- but they didn't warn the employees, either -- literally locked the gate on them and told them to clear out with only a few minutes' notice (apparently to reduce the likelihood of theft).
Anyway, since they've closed, they've been replaced by a Hot Topic which Bonnie and I frequent more often than I should admit. I've stayed in touch with one of the guys who used to work at Suncoast, mainly because he's a serial retail employee who's worked at three other places in that same mall since Suncoast closed.
But the manager -- a gregarious, furry round fellow named Bob -- went MIA. I always appreciated his attention in the store, since he'd let me peruse their advance release lists, take my preorders, listen attentively as I complained about this minuta or that issue, and would often keep me in mind if new stock came in that he thought would interest me.
Earlier this week I took Bonnie and the kids out for lunch. Next door to the restaurant is a gaming store called The Gathering. It's the sort of place I would have adored at 13 -- chock full of D&D, Warhammer 40,000 gear, card games, board games, and rife with LAN-connected computers and video game consoles. A real game geek paradise.
There, behind the counter, was Bob.
Turns out he's pals with the guy who owns the place. He's also the leader of the Warhammer 40,000 sessions they have each weekend.
I should have figured.
Anyway, it's reassuring to know that Bob landed safely, with another gig that's as uniquely suited for his geeky sensibilities as his last job. Some things don't change, and they shouldn't.