you Goff that right

It happened... I didn't expect it and I didn't force it. I also didn't hide anything or try to be something I'm not. I am happy to announce that I made a friend! She is very cool and she laughs at my jokes. Her name is Erika and we are roughly the same age (give or take 5 years). Her husband recently started working for our family business. I'm super psyched to have met someone who gets me. For those of you thinking about my Tracy at this moment, please know that she has given me her blessing. I told Tra all about Erika and her exact words were, 'I'm so excited for you to find a friend'.

July will make two years since we've been in South Carolina and we are so fortunate to have met people through Church (shout out to CFCC) and through our son Josh (who introduced us to Brandon and Amanda). We also have extended family through my brother and sister-in-law (Candace, Dave and the kids). Everyone is so genuine and nice but life, jobs, family commitments and pandemics overflow our plates.

I have known Erika for almost 3 weeks and we became instant friends. She is a nurse at a local hospital. In all this madness, she helps sick and injured people in the ER. Our nurses, doctors and hospital staff, including volunteers, deserve a standing ovation for their dedication. A big fat THANK YOU to everyone in the medical field.

Jon and Erika are a wonderful couple with a gorgeous baby girl. Olivia stole my heart the moment I saw her picture and then took my breath away when I first met her. Babies are a reminder of hope and love. Jon and Kevin have so much in common that its scary. They like the same music and they both play the drums. If Kevin traded the dirt bike for a skate board or vice versa they would be twins (minus a tattoo or two). Jon was the ONLY applicant to our online job posting who included a resume AND he was the only one who return my call for an interview. Since I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason, I see this pandemic as a stress test on our business and on the economy. Jon was looking for work because of the pandemic and he fits with our team.

We are living one of the biggest chapters of our history right now. Kevin said it best, 'if we can survive this pandemic than we can get through anything'. He said this in context to the business but I believe that statement to be true about everything. Our personal finances, our health, our community, our nation and the world. Maybe even new friendships - if we can make friends during a pandemic than those bonds should last forever. You're stuck with me now Erika; I'll even visit Japan just for you❤

#thegoffs