Author Thomas Wolfe wrote a book telling us "You Can't Go Home Again."

Boy, was he ever wrong.Last Saturday, I went back home to Hess's of Allentown, where I started my career 40 years ago.I was invited to the Hess's Hamilton Mall Employees Reunion, held at Emmaus Park.There were 99 former employees who showed up to renew friendships, reminisce and spend the day surrounded by Hess's memorabilia.The senior member attending was Ruth Oswald, 102.The event was so special a TV station showed up to capture the moment. And no wonder. Nothing matched Hess's of Ninth and Hamilton.If you shopped beneath the grand crystal chandeliers, you know how special Hess's was. Fashion models would stroll among shoppers, softly saying: "From our Paris collection, $599.99."It was a place of elegance and mystery, a few buildings five stories high, joined together to appear as one, with secret halls leading to areas designated "Co-Worker Only."I was hired to join the staff of Hess's advertising and public relations department in the 1970s.It was a thrill to become part of Pennsylvania's largest in-house ad agency, 70 employees. The operation was so big it was second in size only to those of Madison Avenue in New York City.I was constantly learning. In 1977, they sent me to Philadelphia for production training. I dabbled in special events, learned how to operate the life-size Hess's Robot, and even modeled Hess's teen's wear a few times.Hess's was a dream come true for this coalcracker kid. It gave me a chance to work with gifted professionals recognized as the best in the business.My daily job was based in a workstation on the third floor, across the hall from offices of Chairman of the Board Phil Berman and President Irwin Greenberg and staff.Hess's was all about appearance and even illusion, adhering to a three-point philosophy of founder Max Hess: Be first, be the best, and be entertaining.Hess's provided a rigorous co-worker training program. They told us not only what to wear, but which colors matched and which fashion patterns to avoid. Let's face it, this place meant business. In the days of old Max Hess, if you were caught chewing gum you'd be fired.I've written about Hess's a few times over the years and promised to reveal some of the store's secrets and trivia. So here goes.What made the store look so elegant? Easy, it featured 61 spectacular, crystal chandeliers which were reflected in mirrors placed just about everywhere.The store, 1897, began as Hess Brothers. It became known as Hess's in 1968 when Phil Berman bought it.The fancy Patio beer actually was made by Horlachers of Allentown.The toy soldiers outside of the store stood 21 feet high. Each soldier was 15 feet standing on a 6-foot drum.Hess's had no central heating system. The massive place was warmed by the huge chandeliers and other lighting.Yes, Hess's was a magical place. I loved working there.But I was young, had lots of energy, and sought faster career advancement. So one winter day, after nearly four years at Ninth and Hamilton, I accepted a job offer as director of corporate communications at Blue Cross of Lehigh Valley, just a few blocks up Hamilton Street from Hess's.I told my boss, Adolph Klova, I was leaving. None of that seemed right, but I did it.After my final shift, on a dark winter night, I walked out of Hess's employee entrance on Linden Street, too heartbroken to turn around and look back.Leaving Hess's was something I really didn't want to do. I couldn't imagine not being part of Hess's of Allentown.It was there I learned to cherish imagination, so lucky to have been chosen to work among gifted artists, models and amazing talent.At Hess's, it was OK to hang on to childhood, to never grow old.Hess's was where I belonged.But nothing lasts forever, and so reinvented myself and moved on - until last Saturday.After nearly 40 years, I went back home, reunited with my co-workers, my forever playmates.I politely reminded them that Hess's was sold and went out of business after I left the place."See, I told ya I was the one doing all the work!" We picked up where we left off so many years ago.For one special day, I was back home again, and it felt oh so good.