Diary of a Demented Store Owner

Friday 21 January 2011

Where Are They Now

Many, many years ago, as Mikey sat in his humble little stained glass emporium, pondering the next 'Big Thing' in glass, a man short of stature, but long of hair, stumbled in off the street. Not a word was said on that visit except for the offer of an ashtray as those were the days when almost everyone smoked, almost everywhere. 
The man, short of stature, long of hair left, only to come back. Again. And again. 
We learnt his name was Kevin. 
His proficiency in stained glass came from learning in a surrounding of such dubiousness that we not need repeat it here.
We slowly became friends as he wormed his way into our hearts. Yes he looked gruff, even tried to appear tough, but even Mikey's kids saw right through him and called him Cupcake just to let him know. 
They even took him to school for show-and-tell. 
Kevin ended up becoming a big part of the Fantasy In Glass family- teaching, building church windows, renovating and opening the Fantasy In Glass Barrie store. 
We taught him how to light a cigarette off a Weller 100 soldering iron. He showed us how to make a tattoo gun out of a Sony Walkman and a Bic pen. That's right- we all came from the same school of higher learning.
He affected us both professionally and personally. He became a close friend.
Funny things happen in life. It ebbs and flows. We lose touch for no good reason, not knowing why. Life just gets in the way.
Kevin sort of drifted off, and we did too. We were still friends, but just forgot to work at it.
We came back in contact with Cupcake a little over a year ago.
It felt so good to see him.
From a past muddied by uncertainty and obstacles, Kevin had succeeded and owns a thriving business- Bongo Wireless. 
Tell him we sent you.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

OOOoohh nnooOOO
NOT the Wide Mouth Frog???!!!

Jackie Brooks said...

I'm glad to hear Kevin is doing well. He taught my beginner stained glass course, during which we shared many laughs, a few cigarettes and a beer or two. All of the above gradually slipped away into the past but I've lately felt a renewal of interest in all things stained glass. Although I no longer live in the area, I still regularly pass by and hope to pay a surprise visit soon to my favourite and only stained glass supply store. All the best to you Mike, hope to see you soon! Jackie