His Name Is Gary

When someone says, "can I tell you a story," is it bad that I think about this blog?  When it is a great story like the one I heard today, I am ready to push the person out the door and get to my computer.  Unfortunately, I had some work to finish up before I could write.  There are days I work hard in the candy shop.  I know, you don't care.  You want the story.
Gary comes in.  He is excited about coming to the shop for the first time.  That is not unusual for a child.  For an adult it is.  He started looking around.  Mentioned what a great addition this is to our town.  I'm thinking, well if people like you never come in, not sure how great it is.  Gary said, "I used to be blind."  Maybe you saw me walking around with my dog.  I said I had not.  I asked if he had surgery to correct his blindness.  He did not.  Gary has multiple sclerosis.  He has overcome many obstacles with his disease.  There was a time he was in a wheelchair.  He had feeding tubes.  He had several trachea tubes.  It is not uncommon for people with MS to lose their vision.  The optical nerves in their eyes can slowly die off.  That is what happened to Gary.  For two years he was in total darkness.  On a Good Friday he woke up and could see.  Clearly see.  He said he had never seen his dog.  It scared him and he screamed.  Scared the dog into the other room.  His vision is now 20-15.  The doctors consider it a miracle.  He regenerated new optical nerves.  He said they can still see the dead nerves.  Now people can get some of their optical nerves back.  The miracle is he got all of his back.  The doctors said normally when it happens people still wear coke bottle glasses.  Not Gary.  He has a very mile prescription.
He got to keep his dog.  Her name is Hoosier.  They still walk 4 miles a day.  Gary said each night he makes a plan of something he wants to do the next day.  Today the plan was to come to my shop.  He said he likes to make people smile, tell his story.  He was able to start driving again.  No restrictions.  He can do his own grocery shopping.  Gary still has MS.  He is not sitting around wondering how it is going to hit him next.  He is out there enjoying life.  Today he walked into Coco's and told me his story.  He made me laugh, smile, and have goose bumps.  Glad he stopped by.

Did I Mention I Bought A Baseball Team?

I was asked to sponsor a baseball team.  The cost was just a little bit less than a professional team.  My little Coco is on the team.  This is her on picture day.  She came to Coco's before the game.  If kids come into the shop on game day wearing their shirts, they get a free gumball or tootsie pop.  There are some perks that come with being on a sweet shop team.  Tru Stories and Coach love seeing their kids in eye black.  I would rather see her adorable face.  But...I get it, baseball season.  She looks like Tink in this picture.  By the way, baseball season means there are now three Tru Stories children playing at the same time.  It is wild!!

School Trip To Coco's

Normally, I am closed on Monday.  Yesterday, I came into work and opened for two fourth grade classes.  I met them outside and talked about my building history and about my shop. They could barely contain themselves for more than a few minutes.  Most of them had $3.00 to spend and were ready to go.  They took turns coming into the shop.  Thank goodness!!  It was wild!!!!  While kids were inside, outside chalk drawings were going on.  Our sidewalk is filled with messages down most of the block.  I really love that.  It means the warm weather has arrived. 
Some of the kids had not been in Coco's.  Too many!!  Some did not know there was a candy store in Dwight.  They do now Parents.  No more hiding that dirty little secret. 
As always, I am reminded there are still so many great children.  There were children that only had a little money, there were children that had more than they were to bring.  I helped out some of the kids that were just a little short.  One little girl that is a regular here, came up to pay with her friend.  They each had a candy bar.  I said, are you paying for both of you, she said yes.  I told each of them to go get a free water.  I thanked the girl for being so kind.  Her Mom works at the bank next door.  I will be sure to tell her she has a daughter to be proud of.  I think I already know why her daughter is kind.  This year, unfortunately, some kids have found my shop that are not sweet.  They leave garbage out front.  They have done some damage to the yoga studio steps. They pulled the yoga studio sign done.  Makes me sad.  Fingers crossed they do not destroy our flowers.  All the stores on our little block have petunias planted this year.  What a happy street we are!
Fingers crossed all these kids start showing up to Coco's on a regular basis.  I sure do need it!