It was sad to read of the closing of the Old Mystic General Store this week, "Old Mystic bids farewell to its beloved General Store," (Nov. 13).

I can't claim to be a native, but having lived in Stonington for 45 years, I have many fond memories of the store.

When we lived in Old Mystic, it was truly a rite of passage when each of our children became old enough to ride his/her bicycle the one mile from our home to "The General," as they preferred to call it.

And my eldest daughter well remembers receiving a dollar from her grandfather at a very young age and thinking, "100 pieces of candy at the General Store!"