Since the gift shop was moved to the new entrance of the museum, there has been a large clock on the one wall of the shop. Last week it stopped working. I honestly don’t know when it stopped, but I knew it wasn’t 3:40 when I looked at it that morning. I changed the batteries, but it still just sat there, no ticking, no movement. I put it in the garbage. That left an empty hook on the empty wall in the gift shop.
Andrew, the much younger-than-me office manager was thinking about what merchandise he could display there. I told him I would miss the clock because I look at it often from my office. Later that day I moved a painting of the Fenton Mansion from the orientation room to the hook and we went on with our day.
Tuesday afternoons we are lucky to have Jim Wahlberg volunteer to watch the gift shop and reception area. It allows Andrew to leave his office and the gift shop to do other things. The first thing we hear is “Where is the clock?” before Jim even has his coat off. I was in a meeting, but when I heard I laughed and told Andrew, “See, people are going to miss that clock.” He of course thought I was daft.
Wednesday morning our volunteer Marcia Kleinert quickly noticed and commented on the lack of the clock. Wednesday afternoon we welcome Ang Cimo to help at the reception desk. He at least got his coat off before he said, “Where’s the clock?” Andrew and I both broke out laughing. Not long after that, Barb Cessna came downstairs from her office and asked, “Where’s the clock? I can’t tell what time it is from a picture.”
Those of us over a certain age like an analog clock, the ones with hands and numbers. Andrew’s suggestion was a digital clock at the reception desk. Time marches on and we will adapt, won’t we?
