Mixing business and pleasure

Today is a perfect example of a struggle between running a business and taking care of the ones you love.

This morning I made the very weighty executive decision to put a sign on the door of my cafe that read "Dottie's will be closed today. We apologize for any inconvenience . Don't worry. Be happy. We will reopen tomorrow at 7am."

The shift, (there is only one person on Sundays)  was originally assigned to a barista of ours who is still completing training and who is also trying to figure out funeral plans for a tragic and sudden death in his family. Lord knows there is room for compassion here- even from me, an occasionally self absorbed, professional worry wort. Fortunately, or so I thought, I was able to get the shift covered by someone else.

This someone else came down with a stomach bug last night. Violent vomiting with blood. Again- compassion arises... What's happening to me?

This leaves me: a woman with slight waddle, slightly swollen ankles and legs, slightly under-slept and seven and a half months pregnant to open and close the cafe, without a dishwasher on a Sunday- a day that we ALWAYS lose money because of low volume. And the most significant part or all- a dear friend, who drove out from Brooklyn, New York yesterday, is here to visit me and straighten out some friendship blues.

So here lies the challenge- abandon my friend, who's here to work on our long distance friendship for the Cafe? OR, Abandon the loyal and precious customers for my own selfish, yet valuable reasons?

Since I've gotten pregnant, it's become increasingly important for me to fine tune my relationships and emotional problems (YES, I HAVE EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS) and to worry less about my business- as the amount I worry has proven to be no help, one way or another. It is situations like the one described above that rip, tear and destroy my ability to make the right decision. Today however, I have easily made the right decision.

 I will not let business/money outweigh love and friendship- I simply can't afford to do so.

So, Denyse, where should we go for coffee?