I have been in what you might call a “rut” for close to fifteen years. When most people say they are in a “rut” it is usually not a good thing. My “rut” was a good thing. It was something that made my day start off with a little piece of heaven. But Tuesday morning it all came to an unexpected end.

Each morning on my way to work at 6am, I would stop at a little local shop here called “The Bagel Place.” I loved the Bagel Place. They had a bagel called the “Seedy Stick.” They were so good. I loved getting a couple of sticks in the morning. It was one of those things that would just seem to make the day start out on a good note. Alice Anderson opened the Bagel Place 34 years ago. I started my “morning routine” in 2000 as the Bagel Place was on my way to work. Stopping in every day, I got to know Alice quite well. Since I was a good customer, Alice treated me many times over the years to little special things like mini banana bread and other wonderful creations she made. Alice retired and sold the business not long ago. The new owner kept to the way Alice ran her business. Even though she was gone, it was still like she was there. The bagels were still as yummy as before.

As I pulled up Tuesday morning, to get my bagels I noticed something strange. The shop was dark. As I walked to the door I saw the sign posted. In brief it said due to unexpected circumstances after 34 years the Bagel Place was closed. It was quite the shock as I had been in there Monday morning. I began to wonder if the other early morning regulars knew yet as I got there a few minutes before six that morning. There were four of us that were there every morning. Though we never got to know each other more than in passing, it felt like we had a camaraderie as the “early morning group.”

Unexpected change it never easy. Yet it is a part of life that happens often. It’s not something we can plan for, we just have to accept it and make the best of the situation. I will miss the Bagel Place. It will always hold as a fond memory in my heart.

~The Quiet Computer Guy