I’ve noticed a reminisce of the “Good ol’ Days” with the old classmates of mine (Issaquah ’75).

So I looked into any historical pieces done on my family’s contribution to the Sammamish Plataeu.

Lo and behold, someone put our store on the Sammamish Heritage Society site, with a few inaccuracies though. Oh well, it’s nice to be remembered.

This time of year is about the past and how we came through it.

Our family business served the social and material needs in the formative years of the families of the Plateau.

In the very early years, we lived behind the store. The store hours were 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and closed only on Christmas Day.

Well, that didn’t stop people from banging on our doors looking for batteries for their kid’s toys.

We also had a festive open house in the back room where my father would pour a drink in the Christmas spirit to good customers.

A County Sheriff stopped in once and observed a happy gathering. On closer inspection, he wagged his finger at my Dad – “You don’t have a license for that.” But then he shrugged his shoulders and said “Merry Christmas.”

Ah, don’t we wish we still had that kind of relationship between business, the state and community.

We served, lived and grew together then. Let’s tell the next generation the way to do business, live and love at this holiday season.

Patrick J. Sadlier

Former owner of Sadlier’s store – Sammamish