Hello and Welcome to Mark's Corner.
I am the other half of Antiques by Zaar. Ruth, as you have been hearing from for years now, with her newsletters, telephone calls, etc. is the face of our unique family business. I am the guy that does the buying, picture taking, website stuff, accountant, farmer, cook, and husband of Ruth and father of our three wonderful (most of the time) children.
A while back I was out mowing the fields (one of the numerous jobs around our 80 acre property, lucky for me most of it is wooded) and thought it would be nice to contribute to our newsletters as a means to put a smile on peoples faces. So here I am with my first "Mark's Corner". With so much happening here in New Gloucester, Me (population 4,800 people with an area of 48 square miles) there is just so much happening it has been hard to determine where to start. Well, I could talk about the interesting people I meet at one of our two corner stores (one still has full service only for gas and diesel) , or the world renowned Frozen Custard stand (open only from Mother's Day to Labor Day) or the one traffic light in town. It is only a blinking light so as not to slow things down anymore than they already are here in New Gloucester. Yes, we live in a rural ( though very advance compared to the counties up North) area of Maine.
So here goes. A couple of weeks ago I had to have one of the brake lines in my pickup truck (something everyone has here) replaced. I took it up to Ron's Small Engine and Auto Repair on a Monday. He said he would try to have it fixed either Monday or Tuesday. Well Wednesday rolls around and I haven't heard anything so I decided to stop by and see what was happening with my truck. Ron tells me the part should be in today, as the dealer wanted $300 for the part and NAPA could get him the part for around $60, but would take a little longer. Ron made the executive decision to get the NAPA part a couple of days later. Assuming the part would be in later on Wednesday I thanked him for saving me the money and got in my vehicle and drove home and told Ruth how Ron was taking care of me. Well, Thursday afternoon rolls by and I am heading to Gray (another large Maine town) to pick up some groceries, and I drive by Ron's. My pickup truck has been moved, this I take as a sign things are happening. Well I thought I would give Ron another day. Friday comes and goes and being tied up most of the day I sort of let it slide, but after 5pm I drove by Ron's and my truck is back where it originally was. Hmm must be another problem. Well, Monday morning I decide it is time to go see what is happening. I walk into Ron's and he, as always greets with a smile. He tells me it is all done. Well Ruth is away at the High Point show, so I tell Ron I will be back once our daughter gets home from school to give me a ride. Upon returning to Ron's later in the afternoon, I happily write the check, and then ask Ron when he actually finished working on the truck. He tells me "Thursday" sometime. And then also adds some what sheepishly that he had lost my phone number.
Having worked corporate around the world in my past life, I probably would have gotten very upset, etc, but having lived here for the past 8 years, I simply got into my truck, started to smile and happily drove home, and yes my brakes are still working a couple of weeks later. I hope my little slice of our life here in Maine has put a smile on your face. As I email the kids every day, if you put a smile on some elses face today, you will get one back.
We always like to hear from our customers and potential customers, so if you have any comments please feel free to email either Ruth or I at ruth@antiquesbyzaar.com . Hope you have a nice day and a smile on your face.
