TGIF

Happy Friday Mon Cheri! It is wonderful to have had the sun for the last few days. We have been busy. We have an emergency paint job, yes, you read that right, an emergency. A gentle man from Alabama called Abby several times on Thursday in a panic needing his car painted that day! He was very clear and upfront about the nature of the emergency and did not understand why Abby did not give the matter as serious attention as he did. He explained he was here seeing his girlfriend and they got in a fight. She scratched her name in every panel in his car. His dilemma was he had to get back to Alabama to his wife!

I dealt with another gentleman this week who was so out of line and loud that I had to tell him to leave. We were in the shop and he went ballistic and after I asked him twice to lower his voice and change his tone, I noticed two of my guys in the back walking up to clean his ornery little clock. I, in the interest of his safety told him to leave immediately. He stormed out and I went up front as I thought he was heading there to vent some more. The guys were coming up with me to be handy to clobber him if needed. Mr. Chap left and I went into my office to leave a message on his home machine. He was demanding his vehicle and I told him he need to pay for it first and walked away. His wife answered the phone, I am still a little irritated, and I told her I wanted to leave a message for him. I told her to tell him he was not to call or come in until I called and told him his car was ready. I told her to tell him what I was doing to it and that his behavior was not acceptable in my place of business and would not be tolerated again. She heaved a sigh and told me, "Honey, it is not you, I am so sorry, I have been apologizing for that man every day of my life for 30 years." She kept apologizing and, heaved again, and said and - I - have to live with him. What do you say to that!!!???!!! I told her not to worry and I would pray for her.

I called him yesterday morning and told him his car was ready and asked when he planned to come and get it. He said today and hung up on me. I thought, this will not be fun.

He came in very nice as she was standing behind him and they were giving each other that stink eye people give each other after 30 years of marriage. My sense was that she ordered him to apologize and he was not planning to do so and the stand off was happening right in front of me. I had no idea who would win, but I just wanted to take cover!

you gotta love this stuff....I am growing thicker skin and a wiser knowledge of how to stand my ground without inciting a riot.