Handling Changes...Even Little Ones

Well, something is changing today. Something that has made me feel a bit sad. We all go through changes in our lives. We change jobs, we change homes, our faces and bodies change as we age, our kids change as they grow up, Presidents change, the economy changes....very little really stays the same. What matters the most, is how we adapt to change. For the most part, I am okay with change. I usually just figure that is the way it is and move one. How do you handle change? Do you smile and say, "That's life", or do you kick and scream...begging for things to remain as they were? There is a wonderful book that has been out for while now. I think my copy is from 1998. It's called "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson, M.D. Whether you find change difficult, or whether you breeze through it...it's a great (and very quick) read. I highly recommend it.

So, what is the change that is breaking my heart a wee bit today, and making me look back and ponder upon days gone by? Peter's Bakery is closing it's doors today! There I said it, and it hurt a little bit. You have to understand that each and every cake my family has ever purchased for a party of any kind has come from Peter's Bakery! Every Christening party cake, every birthday cake, every anniversary cake, every holiday cake...every single cake we have ever eaten has come from Peter's Bakery! In fact, when I need a french donut fix, or I need to lavish over a long john, I go to Peter's Bakery. The stuff you get at the store...the stuff that comes in boxes.....those aren't true bakery goodies!

Yesterday my son, who loves the bakery as much as I do, stopped at the bakery to snatch up a couple of the remaining sweet morsels and they were out of everything. He had actually worked at the bakery back when he was in high school. So, this morning, not wanting to miss out, I got there early and pounced on a delightful apple fritter...my last.

The bakery has been in the Yurgaitis family since 1961 and has been run by Pam and Phillip for as long as I can remember. Now, before you go and get all concerned that the economy has snatched Peter's Bakery out from under them, you can stop worrying...Pam and Phillip are retiring!

I asked Pam why they didn't sell the bakery? At least then I could have continued my happy little visits. Pam said they decided against it. It's been in the family for so long that they didn't want to pass it on to someone else. Fair enough. I said I usually handle change quite well. This one is a little tough though. I think what bothers me the most about the bakery closing, besides not being able to have my sweets and order my favorite cakes, is that a little piece of our family's history is going with it. My kids use to love going to the bakery when they were little. They loved the little butter cookies with the different colored sprinkles and the smiley face cookies...hey who wouldn't?

So, today we say so long and farewell to the little bakery that has been a fixture in our community for so very many years. We wish Pam and Phillip a wonderful retirement. You will have to excuse me now while I go read, "Who Moved My Cheese" again and does anyone know where I can get a good coffee cake?