priceless

Hello everyone! I'm not going to issue a litany of apologies for not blogging, because that's become routine. I am going to say that I am really I'm really pleased and just a tad envious of the blogging the Little Red Bike Cafeis doing. There's just a palpable difference when people really put there hearts into something that they've built themselves. It makes me wistful for the early days of Half & Half when every day felt like we were playing store.

Unfortunately, sometimes you have to work really hard to keep things simple and pure. As many of you reading this now know I am no longer working in the cafes and I'm trying my hand in the world of advertising. My work is smack in the middle of Half & Half and Acorn, so I'm able to go into each place almost every day for americanos and sandwiches--for quality control purposes, of course. In many ways, it's a dream come true--I get to hang out at my beloved hangouts without having to do the dishes. But don't get the inside work-jokes, and I can't make my own espresso. And as an avowed control freak, I've been forced to "let go," as much as our employees might disagree with that.

Tonight, I was going through a week's worth of mail from Half & Half and I came upon a small, handwritten envelope, sent from a local address. After a while, you get to be an expert in reading envelopes and knowing what's going to be a health insurance scam and what's going to be a torn-out page from a Bible, and this envelope fell into neither category. There was a check for $25 and a note that read:

"Dear Half & Half,
I was at your SW Oak location today at around 5 and I tried to pay with a card that was declined. While I was trying to contact customer service for my card to figure out what went wrong, a young lady working there insisted on making my drink and bringing me the food I had ordered even though she had no reason to think I would be able to pay. I was very impressed with the openness and trusting way I was told "you can always owe us." I don't know the young lady's name or her male co-worker's, who was also very nice to me. Anyway...I thought I would take the opportunity to say "thanks" to Half and Half...Thanks for helping Portland be my favorite city, {name withheld}. "

I read this letter and was reminded what was great about small business. You make your own rules, and their consequences tell a story. You can make these rules restrictions; no cell phones, $5 minimums, restroom is for customers only,etc... Or they can be rules like, say 'hey' to everyone who walks in the door like they could become a friend, and be reasonable, and help make Portland everyone's favorite city. So, tonight I kind of miss my old job (though I won't at 4:30 am, when I will still be asleep) but I'll go to bed feeling like I did something right. Yay.