A Bittersweet Anniversary

It occurred to me earlier today that this date, March 20, is a bittersweet anniversary for me.

That’s because it’s the second anniversary of my resigning as conductor from CSX Transportation, on a day when I was originally scheduled to have an investigation regarding an operating rules infraction.

I did so partly because I wanted to “save face,” as I put it, with respect to my railroad career, a point I made to my boss in my exit interview. When I mentioned that, he nodded in agreement, adding that he’d known me since I first set foot on the property, and that he was saddened by my decision. Furthermore, I had not been happy there for some time.

Yet my timing couldn’t have been worse: it was just before the economy fell apart, and that I left the employ of a good-paying job of eight years without another one already lined up. Talk about doing dumb things!

CSX was significant because I’d worked there for eight years, and that they were the first railroad for whom I worked. However, I view my departure as temporary in nature: my experience will surely work in my favor when I apply to other carriers, and I will land on my feet. It may take longer than I expect, but hopefully not too long!

In some ways, I was relieved I’d resigned, yet at the same time, saddened at the departure. It meant leaving the comfort of good money and what it provides.

“Time heals all wounds,” goes the saying, and I realize that it applies to me as well. As the days pass, the pain arising from that decision will eventually fade, hopefully in the not-too-distant future as I land another job and move forward.

Fred's Retirement: The End of an Era

Change, by its very nature, can be unsettling.

The degree of change is what will bother people. If it's minor, or so small as to be unnoticeable, as in using, say, different-colored curtains, then it will not be as disquieting as something more substantial, as would be in the case of painting a room's walls a significantly different color.

The latter is what I experienced on March 9, 2010, when I decided to stop by F&M Hobbies, a hobbyshop I'd patronized for most of its quarter-century existence. It was started in 1984 by Fred Moglia (hence the name), following a twenty-three year stint as senior chemist at Shell. He was a big bear of a man with salt-and-pepper hair and beard, who was friendly but also of strong opinion, and could be found holding court on various topics with certain people whom he knew. (One example is that of an illustration in the store's restroom, showing an American flag on a pole, with the caption, "Why the HELL do I have to press '1' for English?")

When I pulled into the parking lot of the small shopping center where the hobbyshop is sited, I found several things seemingly out of place. What was with the Honda Ridgeline in the spot normally used by Fred's Dodge Ram pickup? And why were the doors opened wide? When I stepped inside, I asked myself, Where's Fred? He wasn't by the register as I usually found him, so I looked around and not seeing him, began to wonder whether he'd been the victim of foul play, so I called out for him.

The biggest surprise came in the form of Jim Dobis, the new owner of F&M. Fred, looking to retire, had sold the business to Jim, a former construction materials salesman for residences, who was himself unemployed, and looking for a business to buy. He like F&M because of the product mix and the layout of the store, so he took over the reins on March 1.

While chatting with Jim, I was relieved he didn't plan to make big changes, something that would be appreciated by the longtime, loyal customers of the store. In fact, as the new owner, he was surveying his customers to learn their interests, to help guide him.

In some ways, though, I wonder whether something has been lost with Fred's retirement. He launched F&M Hobbies after leaving Corporate America, and he was so strongly associated with the business - he was the proprietor, after all - that it's no doubt a bit weird entering the store and not seeing him behind the counter. But, Fred has no doubt deserved his retirement, and I wish him well post-F&M.

My impression of Jim Dobis was positive. He certainly came across as likable, if a bit aloof, but that was probably from not knowing me, as well as perhaps being his nature. As the new owner, he's trying to get his "sea legs" in terms of running a business, and has taken the right approach to that end, by asking his customers about their interests, not making huge changes, ordering stuff that hadn't been reordered in some time, etc. Given that F&M has a long history, reliable and loyal customer base, and great highway location, he'll be able to serve customers for another twenty-five years, as Fred did as owner and founder.

Since taking over, Jim has launched a website, http://www.fandmhobbies.com/, and I asked him about perhaps establishing social-networking presences on Twitter and Facebook. I was pleased to learn those are in the pipeline. Furthermore, he even has an email address for the store: fandmhobbies@hotmail.com.

Fred and Jim have entered new stages in their lives, and I wish them the best in their endeavors. Fred, enjoy your retirement; you deserved it.