TheCat's Meow

About a year ago I happened by the store front of one of the finest businesses in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. I had been by this establishment before, but something lured me closer this time. At the far end of the display windows was a Hummel collection and one in particular caught my eye.

As I viewed it closer I was interrupted by a young man in his late teens. He was a traveler of sorts; back pack, hiking boots, flannel shirt, blue jeans, scruffy hair and a skate board strapped to the back pack. He asked me if I knew the way to Lake City. I told him to take I-95 north to I-10 west. He said, how do I get to I-95? I thought for a moment, looked at the Hummel one more time and said, “I don’t normally do this, but you seem a descent fellow, I’ll take you to I-10 so all you have to do is go west from there”. He was genuinely grateful and off we went. I dropped him off a couple exits up I-10, he asked for nothing the whole time. We spoke about his travels, how he shattered his guitar defending himself against three hoodlums. I told him he should consider the harmonica, it’s much safer. He told me he was just trying to find himself and somewhere to call home. I shared some of my stories with him that strangely enough mirrored his own.

When I dropped him off I asked him if he had eaten lately and he implied he had. I asked him if he had any money, he said he had $20. I offered him a bit more but he refused saying I had done enough for him already and how he greatly appreciated just having someone to talk with for awhile. I told him the pleasure was mine, shook his hand and we parted ways.

A few weeks later I happened by the store front and display windows again, the Hummel was still there. I am not a rich man by any means. I have several collections of various sorts but I do not own any Hummel’s. My mother has twenty or so, a few I bought for her over the years. One special one, Boy Fishing, I got her for Mother’s Day many years ago. Actually I’ve never fancied myself even purchasing one for myself. However, this one was special to me and I made a goal to save up some money over several months and buy it if it was still there. I’m not a fan of lay-away. I figure if it is meant to be mine it will be there when I can afford it.

I went into the store and was greeted by an elderly gentleman who was very pleasant and cordial. I wandered thru the store (which is absolutely incredible) to the far display window where the Hummel was and asked if I could see it closer. The gentleman obliged and even let me hold it. I asked the price…$300. Well I guess I had a bit more saving to do than I thought. I told him I would return when I could afford it.

Over the months that I was saving for the Hummel I would walk by the display window to see if it was still there. Occasionally I would walk into the store and browse around at the beautiful jewelry, watches, pens, glassware, nick-nacks, and all sorts of collectables. I got to know Mr. Thomas better. His wife Delorise runs the books; he runs the store with an assistant. I even met their grand daughter and great grand child one afternoon while browsing. (Continued to page 2)
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What separates customer service from good customer service is often the little things a proprietor will do to earn and keep your business. Over the months of the past year Jacobs Jewelers on Laura Street has gotten a minor amount of business from me. But he knows one day I’ll come in for that Hummel. He treats me with dignity and respect as I do him and his wife. He has taken time to show me his catalogs when I was looking for a specific type of rope chain for one of my medallions. He has done minor repairs on broken clasps for me at no charge and he is happy to explain his techniques to me.

The history of Jacobs Jewelers is well documented by the local media. This story is not intended to retell a very interesting history (which started in 1890 by the way). No…this is a story about my personal experiences with Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and their fine store on Laura Street. You see after a year I feel more like a friend than a customer. That’s what separates customer service from good customer service, a feeling of trust between proprietor and customer.

So now as I sit in my living room I glance up at my china cabinet and there sits my Hummel, a year later. It is called the Cat’s Meow. There is a small boy sitting with his legs outstretched. He has a writing tablet on his knees and a pencil in his left hand. Next to him is his pet black cat, peering at the tablet as if reading what the boy is writing. The boy has his right hand on the cats back. There is writing on the tablet in German…the boy is writing a story about his cat.

This Hummel is special to me because I like to write my thoughts occasionally and often times when I do my pet black cat, Malcolm, will sit at my side or on the head rest of the couch. As I write this now my older cat, Mr. Whiskers and Malcolm, who is a little more than a year old, are both sleeping peacefully by my side.

The Cat’s Meow Hummel, I’ll cherish it forever and hope I can provide a good home for it to be shared with others.

Thank you Roy and Delorise Thomas for the friendship we’ve developed over the past year and the kindness you shared with a stranger. I look forward to future business with the best jeweler in town…Jacobs on Laura Street.


In His Service:



Bryan A. Stross
Jacksonville, Florida
April 29th, 2008
Luke Chapter 14
Isaiah chapter 54 vs. 10-12