A Change In Seasons

Lindsay Ellen

It’s that time of year.

Less than two months until Christmas and it feels like it showed up overnight.

We just turned the clocks back. Summer is gone. For Marco, that means more traffic on Collier, no parking at Publix, and new faces everywhere. And honestly? We love it.

For months we’ve been prepping for this. New cases. New designs. A fresh look. We open the doors every morning excited. Because at the end of the day, my job is to help people find the thing that makes someone light up. And there’s nothing like hearing: “Oh my goodness, I love it so much.” That’s the whole reason we do this.

WHEN IT GOES WRONG

But not every gift is a home run. And that’s okay.

We’ve all been there. The wrong size. The wrong style. Hey, it happens. Bring it in. We’ll fix it. We’ll find you something you actually love.

What’s harder is when people take it out on us. Like the woman who threw a box of earrings at me.

“My husband bought these and they’re TOO SMALL! YOU KNOW I LIKE BIG EARRINGS!”

I didn’t. I’ve never met you. I wasn’t there when he bought them.

But I do know this: yelling won’t make them bigger. Telling me kindly what you want will. We’re on your side. Let us help you.

Then there was the turtle pendant lady. Same turtle. Three years in a row. She just quietly exchanged it every time and never said a word. He must have really loved that turtle. Bless her heart for not saying anything.

You just never know what people are carrying in. So we try to meet it with honey. Because you catch more bees that way.

WHY WE STILL MATTER

From repairs to watch batteries to custom design — we’re here. Real people. Behind the counter.

In a world of AI chatbots and “press one for service,” this is the last place where someone will look you in the eye and tell you the truth about your diamond. This is what separates us from a website that takes your money and ghosts you when your clasp breaks. Caveat emptor. Let the buyer beware. Unless the buyer comes to us.

A PERIOD OF TRANSITION

Our store is in a new chapter. For 30 years, my father’s presence behind this counter was a Marco Island mainstay. He gave his life to this business and to his customers. Now it’s his time to rest. He’s lucky. He has a staff he trusts. And he has his kids working to protect the name he built. A lot of customers tell me about family businesses that closed because the kids didn’t want it. I get why. This isn’t easy. The economy, the stress, the 60-hour weeks... it’s not for everybody.

But we’re here.

Snowbirds, locals, tourists — we’re devoted to serving you while we figure out our new normal.

Please be patient with us. We’re doing our best to honor the past and build the future. One ring, one repair, one “I love it” at a time. That’s the job. And I’m proud to do it.

Lindsay Ellen is the Jeweler’s Daughter and can be found at The Harbor Goldsmith, 680 Bald Eagle Dr on sunny Marco Island, Florida. Call 239-394-9275 or email harborgoldsmith@comcast.net.