New Year, same me. I write that for a few different reasons. One, I’m writing this column and submitting it rather late. So much so, in fact, that it may seem strange to even be bringing up the new year still. I imagine (and shamefully hope) that like many of you, my New Year’s resolutions are off to an inauspicious start, as proven partially by my procrastination. Shoutout to Adam, our editor, for his flexibility! Secondly and more importantly, I’m as deliberate and reflective of a person as ever. Thirdly, and I hope most importantly, I keep coming to the year ahead, and all the people who are making it happen.
Downtown was as festive and full of life as ever during the holidays. Thank you to everyone who shopped downtown. And, the Cheese Drop, despite the rain, was well attended and so much fun! As the calendar rolled over, that momentum rolled over with it. Coming off our 20th anniversary, there is renewed energy with my board of directors. When challenges arise — whether it’s sick volunteers, social media commotions, or last-minute issues, you inevitably get pulled back into event management. I have been incredibly blessed with a group of volunteers that has evolved and grown. The group, led by Tom and Mary Miller and Tina Koch, was as committed as ever to being outside in the cold and making the night as good as it could be. Maybe it’s obvious, but we host so many events because they are quite important to our mission. And we hope each tells a story.
They can ultimately be impacted by factors beyond anyone’s control, such as weather, but it’s the people who keep them going. Like the volunteers and all of you who attended the Cheese Drop and let us emphasize Swiss heritage and community. So, while our events are the most visible expressions of community, they are not the only places where it’s built. And sometimes the most meaningful connections happen far from a stage or a schedule. I have been struck by a few things and stories that, despite the procrastination, have not yet left me.
About six weeks ago, Tom Eisch, the owner of Barbers II, officially retired. For a number of years, he was semi-retired, seeing mostly only longtime clients. It’s from those clients that I found out Tom was officially retiring. I heard from someone who had been getting his hair cut by Tom for 45 years and wonders where he will go now. A granddaughter, who got her first haircut from Tom is graduating from high school this spring. The connections we make are not always defined by specific periods of time, but it is also impossible to dismiss how knowing someone for that long does not have an impact on your life. Tom retired without any fanfare, which, perhaps I’m undercutting a bit, but I am drawn to him wanting to retire silently and the connections he’s made with men and their families from all walks of life.
Deliberately, and reflectively I know that some of strongest threads in a community are the ones woven so gradually that you do not notice them until they are gone. In his quiet way, Tom helped shape our community, not with announcements or stages, but with time, trust, and a familiar chair.
— Jordan Nordby is the executive director for Main Street Monroe. He can be reached at MonroeMainStreet@tds.net. Complete details on Main Street Monroe and its efforts can be found at mainstreetmonroe.org.
