The holiday sprint that always befalls us and has us sprinting is on. Kim, our shipping darling, and quiet glassybaby super hero, is working seven days a week now. The orders are streaming in from hither and yon and Kim is rock steady. Sometimes I try to infuse triage aid to Kim...How can we help? Do you need more people? Should we form a shipping posse to stay late? With classic understatement, Kim barely blinks and replies: 'I think that it is best if I am left alone.' I really want to fly her to Bermuda in January. Luckily she has Christiana, our extra holiday shipping helper. Christiana, trained by Kim, is rocket powered and we feel lucky to have her. These two are unstoppable. (See photo above of a bevy of boxes...glassybaby waiting for delivery.)
As usual I am perpetually on a sleuth to find blog content. After I described our on line golden ticket contest (you still have time to enter..read last weeks blog installment) a crush of emails arrived in our customer service in box. So many email golden ticket entries included a little love missive to glassybaby. Here is a sweet example:
'Hi glassybaby miracle makers!!! My name is Tiffany. I am 44 years young. I live at...My phone number is ...Now I know how Charlie Bucket felt.'
I love the spirit of her entry, the triple exclamation points and Charlie's last name, 'Bucket,' who knew this Willie Wonka detail? Impressive. Good luck winning the golden ticket Tiffany.
Another correspondence arrived on Monday and provided within an instant smile. Janet wrote:
"I have been perusing your website for SO long. A friend in Seattle sent me a link last year. It is very difficult to choose colors!...My wall colors are along the lines of Driftwood and Squirrel Tummy.."
And it goes on wonderfully. But to describe a color as 'squirrel tummy' is beyond priceless. Ryan, our Production Manager, and expert colorist, took on Janet's email, filling the shoes of resident squirrel tummy color consultant. I forget which colors she proposed. I would include a mix of ankle deep and brother glassybaby.
Endnote that harkens to the spirit of Santa. There is a wonderful man named Bill Pond. He is a retired, local, carpenter, who had an epiphany, a kind of calling to service. While standing in line to order a hamburger at Dick's Drive In on Broadway, a Seattle fast food landmark, a homeless person approached him for spare change. Bill offered a hamburger instead. His offer was heartily accepted. It felt right to feed someone who was hungry and in need. How can one person feed the many and sustain the cost? Bill came up with his own equation. He makes home made chicken soup and egg salad sandwiches every Wednesday and Sunday evenings. He arrives on Capitol Hill to nourish a thankful line of hungry, homeless people, from the tailgate of his pick up truck. Recently, a private party was held to raise funds, in part, for Bill's amazing service. glassybaby were sold with a percentage of the sales going to Bill's Capitol Hill Homeless Project. The host of the party pledged an additional 400 dollars. An inspired friend matched the 400 dollars. Finally, Lee, in the name of glassybaby, matched with an additional 400 dollars. Paid forward, Bill's service inspired over a thousand dollars toward feeding the homeless. Lovely and timely.
Happy Holidays...our wish is warmth, candlelight and nourishment for all. Until Next Time, Nicola
