Small Business Saturday? Aren't We All Worthy Of Celebration EVERY Day?

Had to be reminded by a very wonderful lady on Saturday that it was Small Business Saturday.  A time to focus our buying time on the "little guy".  I'm here to tell you I have NO problem classifying ourselves as such.  After all, to own and operate a little shop eclipsed in the shadow of such megalithic corporations swallowing up landscapes and decimating the once prevalent Mom and Pop shops that in their heyday dotted the landscapes of all of Americas cities, towns and villages, is to be a proud survivalist!  But to say that one day a year is enough to recognize such endurance?  Oh nay, nay!
Think about this for a second:  When you own and operate your own business, service or retail, whichever, where do YOU shop?  Well, yes, pickings are slim nowadays, but if your observant you get some of the necessities from second hand stores, local restaurants, hair stylists, repair shops even fish, meat and vegetable vendors (surprisingly, at close to or sometimes below what the BIG guys do it for!) We have, as a society drifted towards the convenience of an "all you can get in one store" culture but more and more folks are gravitating to the experience of the local haunts.  And when they do, where does the money you spend go?  That's right, back to your community!  We for one patronize most all second hand stores, a fruit and vegetable vendor right up the street (looking for a fish and meat market as well)  coffee and breakfast every morning at the "Wren's Nest", cleaning supplies and sundries at the corner market, computer repair with Pat at "Zone Red", and lunch and diners out occasionally at "The Golden Coin", "China One" and the Sushi joint up the street!  Yes, on occasion we do visit Wal-Mart for the things we cannot find readily elsewhere, and it pains us each time.  But it is fun to watch some of the folks going in and out of there.  Then again, they probably think the same of me!  In the end,  best to keep your money in your community rather then in an overseas account in the Cayman Islands! 
I had a point....where did I leave it?
OH yea!  It was to thank all those folks who may have taken the day at it's heart and visited any number of their local shops.  Hopefully the experience was a good one, and perhaps the folks there impressed you enough that you may just become a regular!  And our deepest gratitude to all those choosing us as well. 
OK, to update everyone in the personal goings on of the home front.  As predicted the inconvenience of our house up for sale came into sharp focus Saturday morning, as everyone was still milling about in their "just woke up stages" there came a knock upon our door.  Seems a family had set an appointment to view the house on Sunday but as they were in the neighborhood they felt it was no problem for them to just pop by to check it out, as it was more convenient for them.   Apparently they were void of respect and decorum as Angela was still in her nightgown sipping her first cup of the day.  Now, her being the nicer more diplomatic of us, she agreed but with the caveat he allow her to get dressed, as well as an all hands on board  quick ten minute fluff and stuff.  The gentleman returned, with the whole of his family in tow to trounce through the house peeking in every nook and cranny.  Yay, fun!  She was MUCH more accommodating then I would have been! 
Needless to say, it is getting old real quick!
Now onto that pesky work thingy!  As aforementioned, Saturday was blissfully busy, the young lady celebrating the day did so by purchasing the awesome Trek 7300 and the Mongoose 7 speed hybrid as well!  Yes, in gratitude I gave her a killer deal!  The Royce Union also found a home with a very wise young gent with an eye for quality!  Thanks to those folks for coming in and picking up their repairs as well as a couple more dropping off!  Thankfully the windfall afforded me the ability to treat Angi to a night out at one of our favorite coffee haunts, and a perusal through the book shop, as well as a couple adjacent shops where she picked up a few trinkets!  I was just happy to be able to do something to mark her day. 
Today also marked the return to some normalcy around the house as the kiddos are back to school form their Thanksgiving week off (remember when we went to school and only had a long weekend?).  Of course, in their normal fashion, Mom and Dad's forewarning that perhaps they should have all their necessary "school going" items laid out and ready (clothes, book bags, shoes and jackets) were ignored and the traditional chaos of "where's my pants?" and "who took my shoes?" ensued.  Of course...we were late.  In all fairness, it didn't help that I didn't get up until 7.30 either!
So now, getting back into the groove I bid you a fond farewell, as one of our side projects was to replant all the house hold videos and DVD's (1432/464 respectfully) into Mom and Dad's recently reorganized closets and in so doing rediscovered some flicks I haven't seen in a while, but am willingly popping in shortly as I putter!  See ya soon!