Loose Change. . .

I’m home from a road trip that included stops in Memphis and New Orleans. Readers may know that I spent just shy of seven years living in the greater Memphis area and have some great memories of friends, experiences, professional achievement, and some killer food and music.

Wandering a downtown that is significantly changed (for the better) since I left in 1999, I noted new hotels, sports venues, a Gibson Guitar factory, and some new dining options.

Walking the length of Beale Street is a must for me – seeing the clubs Rum Boogie, BB King’s, and Silky O’Sullivan’s brought back some great memories of live delta blues and late night laughter. One mandatory stop is A. Schwab’s Dry Goods Store. From the Beale Street website:

"[At] A. Schwab's Dry Goods Store . . . we emphasize the words "dry goods" because this is where you'll get an umbrella, hat or raincoat to keep you dry if it starts to rain. [The store] Looks much as it must have when it opened in 1876, with an incredible array of [products] such [as] voodoo paraphernalia, familiar from the blues, as Mojo Hands and High John the Conqueror lucky roots in fragrant oil, as well as 99¢ neckties and Sunday School badges. They also have thousands of other unique and interesting items to just marvel at, or actually purchase." http://www.bealestreetonline.com/shops.htm

Schwab’s is the only remaining original Beale Street business, was founded by Abraham Joseph Schwab and operated by generations of Schwabs every since. Well, at least until about 3 months ago when the business was sold to interests outside of the family – there wasn’t a member of the upcoming generation that wanted to continue the tradition. Speaking with a long-time clerk, I learned that the future of the store and its miscellany of items is unclear and she indicated that the new management wasn’t replenishing inventories as things sold. The future of Schwab’s is in the hands of the new owner - while romantic musings won’t contribute to cash flows, I hope there is a future for this mercantile Mecca.

One long-standing Memphis tradition is going strong, I’m happy to report. Dinner at Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous was magnificent. The din of long-tenured servers yelling drink orders and the stack of used napkins piling up while eating my ribs reassured me that this is one Memphis tradition, if the lines for seating are indicative, that has a long future!

Is it better to keep things the way they are or accept change?

Chances are, the answer is “it depends.” What is it that is changing? Is it a clear improvement? Does it mean the loss of an iconic institution? Does it affect our livelihood? Does it challenge us to get out of a rut?

In my life, I have several examples where I don’t easily change (I’ve purchased the same style Bass Weejuns five times over the last 25 years and reorder from Sperry annually) and others that point to a fickle nature (seven vehicles in the last ten years). I comfortably have my “lunch spot” and my “place to stop on the way home from work” and hold certain traditions dear as I stumble through life.

How we respond to change - especially when it is out of our control - is, I believe, critical to our happiness. One modern parable addresses this fairly well. In his book Who Moved My Cheese, Dr. Spencer Johnson explores different responses to significant life changes using mice as characters. It is a quick read and gives applicable perspectives for one’s professional and personal lives.

Change is necessary and sometimes uncomfortable - sometimes down right scary.  Fear of change can shackle people in bad relationships or unfulfilling careers. When friends and loved ones can break those shackles, it is time to celebrate.  Conversely, losing icons is rightfully difficult to accept - many are measures of our life.

Stay tuned for a report from Bourbon Street. . .