Jack Metzger posted a message on Facebook a couple of weeks ago saying that after 27 years, he was thinking of closing his iconic shop on Main Street in October. Time to focus on his art and travel a bit, he said. The word swept through the town like a dark cloud.

Everyone here loves Jack and wants him to be happy, but we are always fighting to keep our community together here, and Jack is a major fixture on Main Street, a big part of what makes our small town unique. I visited Jack today and he said the antiques business has changed, younger people are just not interested in old things any more, and they don’t have much extra cash to spare.

His business is still profitable, and he is selling a lot of his art, but he thought he might just need a change. It is hard to think of Main Street without Jack, but it is his decision, and I would never urge him to go against his heart.

I will say that Jack has made this announcement one or two times before, and when I saw him today, he had a stream of customers in the store, many of them buying things. Jack loves selling the old things he finds, and he looked very happy.

Are you really closing in October?, I asked. Well, he said, I am thinking about it. It might be time for a chance. Oh, excuse me for a sec Jon, I’ve got a customer over in the corner. He also dragged me onto the porch to look at a giant metal cowboy boot. I was not interested, but Jack loved it and told me the story anyway.

Jack and I are having lunch next week, we have a rich and good history together, and he got me to write a check today. I was preparing to say goodbye and wish him, well, but I’m not 100 per cent sure he is leaving. Jack’s soul is in that place, we’ll see.

I would miss him, as everyone here would, but that’s not a reason for him to stay. If he needs to give rebirth to his life, I wish him every bit of good luck.