Ryan's New Digs

I'm getting this post up to save my life. I think my Mom has her gun loaded and ready to shoot me if I don't post these pictures. The big move for Ryan and Lucas started last Friday. It was a pretty exciting weekend! By the afternoon of Friday, the store was looking pretty empty. Other managers from around the area came in, packed it, and hauled to the new store. After seeing how they pack and load pallets, they will not be invited to help me move my house when the time comes.

All that was left in the show-room when we arrived at the old store Friday night.

Lucas and the "I-T" people from Bend getting ready to shut the computer system down.

One of the service trucks loaded with tool boxes and ready to go!

We let Taylor have a Rockstar energy drink. 'Nough said.

Friday night, Ryan took the boys, Geniel, and I up to see the new store. When I walked in and saw the new store, I wanted to jump and shout for joy right there! I had forgotten what a "real" Les Schwab was supposed to look like. Everything is new, clean, and appealing. I am so excited for Ryan and Lucas!

Lucas. I treat him delicately. He keeps Ryan light-hearted at work.

Saturday we continued getting the rest of the small stuff out of the old store. The painters came to paint the outside of the store and to cover all the windows with plywood. The old store doesn't even resemble a Les Schwab anymore. It's kind of a bitter-sweet feeling for me. I never thought I would feel bad about leaving the downtown store but maybe it's the fact that it's closed down and we aren't just moving on. I feel like a part of Ryan's hard work has died without any credit. No one knows what he has gone through the last five years and as his wife, at times it's been very hard for me to sit by and watch him wait it out.

The new store! This is the view from walking in the side door.

The front counter.

The waiting area.

Now, we are on to greener pastures! Ryan and Lucas both act like they have ADD. They bounce from one project to the next. They have both been putting in some pretty long hours. I keep telling Ryan that it doesn't all have to be done today, but he doesn't listen to me. Ryan told me that they see more cars in three hours than they ever did at the old store in a week. Of course, they are on the corner of an eight-lane road. This makes it a little harder for them to get in too deep with a project during work hours because they have customers to help. Customers!! The employees at the store are walking around Ryan like he's the grim-reaper and he's going to call their number any moment. I don't think Ryan will make any big changes just yet, although they did move the bookkeeper to part-time already.

So, this begins the next chapter in our Les Schwab book. I hope this ride is a little smoother than the one that we've been on the last five years but we know we can handle whatever comes our way. Now, if I can just get Ryan to be as excited to clean out and re-organize the garage as he is over this new store......