When my wife and I moved into our home in the summer of 2012, we had very different views on what the progress of our new home would look like. My wife wanted it finished as soon as possible. I wanted to make it a work in progress. Marriage is a work in progress. Sure, it comes with many years operating in red, constant restructuring, labor strikes, hostile takeovers, gangly mergers, and communication breakdowns, but without those obstacles, a marriage could never be called eclectic, which my wife and I are. Very.
Fortunately, we have the exact same style and sense for what we wanted our home to look like. I just wanted to “find” things, whereas my wife wanted to “buy” things. Sound out of the ordinary to you, gentlemen? Didn’t think so. I had dreams of strolling the Kane County Flea Market for just the right coffee table or buffet. But while I was dreaming, my wife was strolling the Pottery Barn catalog.
This discrepancy in our approach to home decorating left us with … how should I say this … several colorful talks.
Me: “But what happens if you buy everything now and see something a few months from now that you like better?”
Wife: “I won’t”
Me: “But how do you know?”
Wife: “I know.”
And so began a sprint to complete our home’s décor in record time. But there’s only so fast a mule can go, and when it comes to buying and moving furniture, I’m the constant mule in this marriage. Two years later, our basement, which is fully finished, looks like something wanderers might stumble on in the aftermath of the apocalypse, we utterly lack window coverings (I’m sure the neighbors are thrilled), and our porch and deck are wanting for furniture, but we’re almost done. And true to my wife’s word, she hasn’t wanted to replace a thing.
And after two years of keeping with the Joneses, I’ve had a full reversal and never want to “find” anything again. I relish the catalogs that spill out our mailbox and am almost willing to entertain door-to-door sales calls. If it keeps me from hanging one more frame or pushing one more couch around the house, I’m more than willing to relinquish my pursuits of that “perfect piece.”
Although two years is quite fast to complete a home, my wife and I both learned that at times you have to speed up at and, at times, slow down. But in the end, it all came together because we make a good team.
Owning and establishing a business is much like buying and decorating a new home. It takes years to complete, if ever, despite initial ideas or concepts on progress. And, at times, you need to speed up or slow down, reorganize or refocus, find or buy, change or stick with what you know. And, of course, there’s always bickering. But this is what gives a business its color. Change brings growth when everyone cares.
In the last couple weeks, the Sun Day experienced change with the departure of Mason Souza from his Managing Editor role.
Mason accepted a position at another company, and the Sun Day wishes him the best of luck and care on his new road. Mason was instrumental in the continued development of the Sun Day and did his share of redecorating. Many of his insights and changes and skillful attributes will endure for the life of the Sun Day. He created a good home here for all to enjoy. But alas, sometimes it’s time to move on.
Replacing Mason will be the Sun Day’s new Assistant Editor Andy Steckling. Many of you will recognize Andy’s byline from the paper, as he’s been writing for the Sun Day for about two years.
In fact, it was Mason who brought Andy on board. They share history at their college newspaper, and Mason believed Andy a good fit for the Sun Day, which he’s turned out to be. The Sun Day is excited to have Andy step into this new leadership role. Though he is not assuming total management of the Sun Day, he will be responsible for all editorial direction and planning. With Andy’s skill, readers can expect the same level of commitment to the community, and, of course, new things to come.
Please welcome Andy to the Sun Day and to the community. Andy’s contact information is immediately available in the bar to the left and his column will debut in the May 22 edition of the Sun Day.
Until then, Happy Trails.
