A Text Invitation

Last Sunday, I got a text message. It was from an unknown number, and the message took me by surprise.

It was from my friend Ria. We came from the same island back in the Philippines, and we have a lot of common friends even before we know each other. Her husband Ric is also the mister's colleague. Ria and I first met when I started going with the mister at their company events.

She invited us for the surprise 50th birthday party she's hosting for her husband. That is surely exciting!

Her message was a surprise for me. You see, we only see each other twice a year---at our husband's company gatherings. We don't chat online, but we make sure to catch up when we see each other in these bi-annual get-togethers. We also don't belong to the same social group. Actually, I don't belong to any. Hehehe. The mister and the kids is my own social group.

I was so happy when I got her message.
1) She kept my number when she asked for it many months ago.
2) The event is for a milestone celebration and she wanted us to be there.
3) And most of all, the invitation does not have any other agenda like a network marketing ploy. I HATE THIS! Remember when my heart did a Titanic? Read it here!

I said yes, but I was nervous.

I don't really go to gatherings other than those invitations we get from our friends here in Frederick, and from our friends from Virginia.

Friday. I was already thinking of what to wear for Saturday when I got an email. It was for a special handmade order for a retro skirt. Initially, I wanted to turn it down, but she's a regular customer from Australia since 2012. She's that kind of customer who buys my vintage items and never asks for discounts even those times when she bought multiple items at a time.

I had to say yes to this rush special order which was to be mailed tomorrow, Monday. This means, I had to say no to the invitation.

I sincerely felt terrible on not going because it was a milestone celebration. *sigh. I'll just catch up with the couple on the next company gathering in July.

It has been awhile since I made a skirt. I stopped accepting handmade special orders in my shop for many years already. It's just space and time consuming---from choosing the perfect fabric, making the pattern, cutting fabrics then to assembling them.

But I love my suki (repeat buyers), so I had to miss the party.

In January, a well known photographer needed an item to be shipped via FedEx earliest time possible the next day, but I had to attend a funeral. That was the only time I said no to a suki.

Yes, I love profits but it is not always about that. What I value most is the support and the trust that my customers have for me. There are an immeasurable amount of us, small time makers and sellers. We are scattered in every nook and cranny of the world, but I am most grateful to my customers who found me like a needle in a haystack, and unceasingly supporting me for many years.