Fill in the blank:
“There I was in/on/at __________, when a customer called my cell phone to order a gift basket!”
You can be standing, sitting, or traveling anywhere when sales arrive, so I know you have a story to fill in the blank. Here’s mine.
A few years ago, my sister and I traveled by bus to Chinatown in New York City. She went there to pick up wholesale merchandise for her business while I accompanied her for environmental inspiration.
I stood on the sidewalk outside of a store while my sister continued reviewing products inside. The area was teeming with people and vehicles. If you’ve ever been to Chinatown, you know how crowded it can get, and the narrow streets make the experience a bit claustrophobic.
Suddenly, my phone rang. It was a customer ordering 12 gift baskets for an auction planned one month in advance. I whipped out my trusty pen and pad which I carry just in case an order arrives and started writing down the particulars.
At one point I looked around and saw several men staring at me. Was talking on the phone and writing at the same time a phenomenon they’d never seen before?
Within one minute of the conversation, I could hear sirens and horns in the distance, and the noise became louder within seconds. There was nowhere to escape. I had no choice but to ask the client to pause our conversation while the deafening sounds passed by.
When I removed the phone from pressing against my collarbone, I thanked the customer for her patience, told her that local fire trucks were being detoured through the area, and completed the order.
What’s the strangest situation you can remember happening around you when a gift basket order arrived? I bet you can top my Chinatown calamity.
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