One of the things I like most about keeping a Blog is when something happens to me art or business related I have someplace to vent, I mean share… So today, I got my feelings hurt. The winds at the Spenard Farmer’s Market (and all around Anchorage -my friend Katie Sevigny lost their tent at the Downtown Anchorage Market) were HOWLING! The wind blew so hard at the Market that my tent (the photo is of our booth sans tent...) was at least pul
ling a 30 degree lean and that’s AFTER Daddy-O came to the rescue, with not only sand bags but two 5 gallon buckets of new deck stain as tent weights! We couldn’t keep the metal sculptures upright, even the syrups were blowing over. Other vendors’ tent tops were flying off of their frames, displays blowing over, post cards and bags flew through the parking lot like crazy bats. The poor plants for sale were being forced to harden off and baskets were swaying from their hangers blossoms sailing. As Gus, Kristen and Derek and I were doing what we could to lay all of the metal work down, disassemble the tent (without empaling any customers), lay all of the glass jars of syrup and jams down an older female customer had her eye on me watching this total vendor chaos…
Her and I had been chatting a few minutes on and off because I kept getting interrupted by falling art and blowing debris from other vendors. As she finished smoking her butt in front of Gus she shook her angry finger in my face all teary eyed and said “well Cindy, while you were FUTZING (yes, she said futzing) around with all your stuff, YOU JUST LOST A CUSTOMER!” She walked off towards her car as I stood embarrassed in front of Gus saying “Now come on Lori, (YES, I EVEN SORT-OF KNOW HER!) I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, I didn’t know you wanted to buy anything, I was just trying to…. “ too late, she sped off in her car. I stood there wide eyed and wind blown as Gus turned to me and said “you’d better tell Dad what happened –she was even SMOKING!” So, Lori if you’re reading my Blog, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to provide the best customer service today and I’m even sorrier if I hurt your feelings. I would never intentionally ignore a customer and MY feelings were really hurt at her accusation -especially in front of my son. As the day blew on and we salvaged all of the art, helped other vendors load up I wrote several Blog posts in my head. Rather than stewing about hurt feelings or worrying about my upset (stomach) customer there were way more positive things about the day like;
...meeting Michelle Wilber and Jay Stange of the Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage who turned me on to where I can find some cool bicycle parts for my upcoming 1% sculpture "Bicycle Bloom" -thanks Jay!
...selling Julia's Artisan HONEY which customers LOVE and always looks so cheery (this was taken before everything blew down)!
...meeting Blue Bell who will give you a high five for a Yummy-Chummy!
...AND Kristen came to town yesterday before she headed out today on the USCGC Healy for some Chemical Oceanography research work out of Dutch Harbor. She'll be out in the Bering Sea for over a month. With her in town it was a chance for me to get the kids' summer picture together. Excuse Gus, now that he's 12 the only smile seems to come with making fart noises...which cracks his brother Will up. Boys.
