So glad we had this time together

Christi wrote this... I needed the tissues when I read it.   

If you are old enough to remember the poignant way Carol Burnett sang out each episode of her Saturday night variety show, this refrain may wax nostalgic:  “I’m so glad we had this time together.  Just to share a laugh or sing a song.  Seems we just get started and before you know it.  Comes the time we have to say...so long.”  After saying goodnight to all she would tug on her ear, smile, bow, and the curtain would close.  As a child this ending always made me choke up a bit and brought tears to my eyes although I really didn’t understand why at the time.  Now I know she stirred a universal emotion that we all feel when it is time to say goodbye, particularly when we’ve enjoyed the experience and we don’t want it to end. 

My arrival at Nature’s Gift fourteen years ago really had nothing to do with me and everything to do with divine intervention.  Long story short, after taking a work hiatus in 2003 to a monastery in New

Mexico, I briefly met a woman who gave me an amulet and samples of Frankincense essential oils that turned out to be from Nature’s Gift aromatherapy with an address in Madison, Tennessee.  Nature’s Gift aromatherapy which I had never heard of and which was only three miles down the road from my home in Tennessee!  Seeking guidance at the time for the next season of life, I filed the experience away and kept it in the back of my mind.  Fast forward to 2005, when a friend in a Yahoo group queried about a job opening at none other than Nature’s Gift aromatherapy!  I freaked out and called immediately.  Marge was skeptical until she heard my story and the rest is history.  Yet even then I never imagined all that would transpire or that it would play such an important part in my life.  I traveled 2400 miles round trip to find a position three miles away from my house.  It still makes me smile to think of it!

In case you haven’t noticed, I work for the creme de la creme “vintage aromatherapist” and one-of-a-kind individual, Marge Clark, founder and creator of Nature’s Gift.  Marge is my boss, mentor, and friend.  She is one of the most generous people I’ve ever encountered.  At the same time, she is tenacious and when she believes in something she will fight for it no matter the price, personally or professionally. But I can tell you, there is one thing Marge loves most, and that is the oils, first and foremost.  She loves the oils and their safe and effective use more than selling the oils she is supposed to be selling.  This baffles and confuses some people.  I have seen her turn away business from large companies and individuals if she knows they are going to be using the oils in an unsafe way.  I admire her for her strong principles.  The bottom line is caring for others, not making money, which is so prevalent in our society today.  She cares about safety, education, quality, and sustainability and of course interaction within the community. 

For my part, she has mentored me on a daily basis and afforded me the opportunity to study with Laraine Pounds for two years.  Priceless learning experiences from two amazing women in this field!  I cherish my time with both of them.  Marge gave me the space to create blends and introduce products now available such as: Relax Synergy, Deep Breath Synergy, O Christmas Tree Synergy, After the Bite, and our Harmony Synergy and skincare line of products.  We’ve tweaked blends, evaluated countless samples, and discussed many conundrums.  We’ve laughed together and cried together and experienced a decade and a half of life together. Thus, it is difficult to come to this point where our paths diverge.  

Our Production Supervisor, Jim, has worked alongside me for fourteen years, less three months.  So up until now, we have journeyed together, and been the mainstays of the crew.  We have a particularly close working relationship and I will miss his humor and integrity.  As of today we have the best staff in the history of Nature’s Gift in my humble opinion and the addition of Rachel at my desk makes it complete.  I love them all: Marge, Jim, Rachel, Cindi, Michelle, Kabrina, and Roberta.  We share life, of course, and it will be strange without our daily check-ins.  The crew we have today is like a family more than co-workers.  That is what makes it so hard to go on this extended medical leave. 

Without going into too many details, I began having strange health issues about five or six years ago but it took four years and many specialists to finally get a diagnosis of an autoimmune-inflammatory-connective tissue disease.  As my health has declined, work became more and more difficult.  This specific chronic condition is not forgiving and not known for spontaneous remission or radical improvement.  As the year progressed it became more and more evident things could not continue as they were and finally Marge and I had a most difficult conversation which neither of us wanted to have.  Now we find ourselves as we are realizing it is extremely unlikely I will be able to return. 

Back to Carol Burnett, her closing song wasn’t just a way to say goodbye.  It was actually a thank you.  Thank you for being here with me.  Thank you for participating.  Thank you for coming along on this amazing journey!  That is SO Nature’s Gift.  Because Nature’s Gift isn’t just Marge, Christi, Jim, Rachel, Cindi, Michelle, Kabrina, and Roberta.  Nature’s Gift is every single one of us. Nature’s Gift is every single one of you.  You participating in our community.  You jumping for joy when we find a new artisan distiller with unusual oils like Alligator Juniper or Southwestern White Fir, or being the first to order the new 2018 Sandalwood Tamil, or donating to MOMS or the United Aromatherapy Effort when there is a need.  Nature’s Gift is and always will be a community of individuals participating together in this beautiful fragrant aromatic journey! 

So thank you for allowing ME to share your journey with Nature’s Gift over the past fourteen years.  I’ve loved every minute of it, but for now I must say, “so long.”  (Tugging ear)

(Curtain closes), (Lady comes out carrying mop and bucket)