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Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Better to Remain Loyal




A smallish to medium tree in my yard died. The location was good and when cut, it would fall free of obstacles.  I called Mr. Bushy the tree man I've used many times. He said he was busy but may be able to squeeze it in  the next day. 

The next day I was outside planting new trees to fill the dead trees vacancy. Another tree man, Mr, Bradly drove by, spotted the dead tree, stopped and said he could cut and remove it at that moment.  I was put in a dilemma because Bushy had not come. I asked the price and Brady said $50. I was tempted to accept and have it over with here and now but something gnawed inside me that I HAD called Bushy so I felt obligated to wait for him.  Obviously he was too busy and would do it next week.

The week end came. On Saturday I was in the house when the doorbell rang. It was Mr. Brady's helper who gave me the same spiel again, in the neighborhood, could cut/remove right now.  I explained again that I had called Bushy first and I felt my loyalty was to wait for him.

Bushy came Monday morning.  He remembered the tree because he had trimmed it last year, in one last attempt to save the poor tree.  The first thing I asked was, "How much?"   He said forty bucks and I smiled inwardly because I was still a loyal customer and saved ten bucks.

60 comments:

  1. Loyalty does have its perks, unlike annoying salesmen

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    Replies
    1. John
      Trouble is, annoying salesman can be tempting. Ha

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  2. Replies
    1. Holy Ghost
      For the last word, you are so correct. :)

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  3. LOL.... Oh Manzi, you are too cute!! That made me smile. Being loyal is important to someone like you. I know you wouldn't have slept well had you used the other tree trimmer.

    Much love to you!!

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    Replies
    1. Terry,
      You are right. Bushy is a good tree man and I wouldn't want to lose him. This is their busy, busy season and he did come as soon as he could, I know.

      Delete
  4. Loyalty pays off :) every time. IMportant lesson for us all to be learned here.

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    1. Keith,
      It wasn't as if I had saved a fortune (LOL) but it just made me smile when Bushy said ten dollars less than Brady. Bushy, Brady...... real names, too. Hahaha

      Delete
  5. Loyalty in that way
    I have to agree with at your bay
    As you already called
    To have the dead tree halled
    But then if you didn't call
    No harm in having the pain in the butt salesman person turn the tree into a wall haha

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    Replies
    1. Much can be said about Loyalty
      It even may bring one a Royalty
      As I waited for Bushy
      And Bradly got pushy
      A song came to mind
      I could have sung in a bind
      Hit the road Jack and don't come back, no more, no more, no more, no more, Hit the road Jack........

      Delete
  6. The fact that Bushy was busy says a lot about his abilities. The other fellow would have annoyed me as he persisted. Since it wasn't a red light and siren case anyway, waiting was no problem and you were nicely rewarded. Good tale. I am huge on loyalty also.

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    1. Patty
      I thought of that. Bushy is always busy, even in the off season.... he knows so much about trees and nature. I don't know Bradly but he must not be busy at all, the way he he was schmoozing for fifty bucks.

      Delete
  7. Karen
    Thanks. I guess I have to be loyal because if I'm not, it hurts in my gut. Ha

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  8. We share the same temptations and the same gut. ;)

    High five for staying loyal. I'm sure Mr. Bushy appreciates it. :)

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    Replies
    1. Rosey
      Yes we may even be in a class by ourselves but if a workman has done good work for me, I continue to keep calling him. I'm sure you do too. Of course much of the time, your workman is your husband so I guess you have to keep him. Haha

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    2. My husband is wonderful, kind, loving, & supportive... but he is no workman. ;)

      Between the two of us we have a good shot of getting a band-aid on one of the kiddos right.

      Yet another reason to stay loyal to a good workman. I love the nicknames you've passed along to your guy, lol!

      Delete
  9. Had it been me... I would have been fine with Mr. Brady doing it the first time he asked had I not already placed that phone call to Mr. Bushy. However, it sounds like you and Mr. Bushy have an ongoing customer relationship. It isn't like you have seen the fellow just once. You later said that he tried to help you save that tree previously. I am guessing that Mr. Bushy has worked with you Numerous Times. So, there is something of a Relationship there with regard to your trees. I know that sounds a bit strange. But, you know that he cares about them (as do you).

    This Mr. Brady would have cut down this ONE tree and been gone.

    I think you saved more than ten dollars.

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    Replies
    1. Robin,
      I would have had Brady do it too if I had just been thinking of cutting the tree down and then he came along and said he could do it right then. It was really such a little job that I could have cut it down if I had a chain saw. You are so right about once I had called Bushy. If I had it cut down and he came before I could call him and cancel, I would feel guilty and embarrassed. I really hated to lose that tree because it was a hard maple and they grow very slowly, All the time I lived in Bozeman, this house sat vacant and the trees and plants never got watered and it's been extremely dry.

      Delete
  10. Hi Manzanita .. no - you acted quite rightly .. and I'm glad you waited those few days .. I suspect that Mr Bushy did a good job too .. and you're each loyal to each other ..

    Sure hope the new trees like their new space .. cheers Hilary

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    Replies
    1. Hilary,
      You are right. I've used his service for several years and he knows and understands trees and growing things. His prices are reasonable too so no wonder he is always busy.

      I hope the new trees will be very happy, too. I planted 3 aspen. The roots send up new trees and a lot of people don't like that but I would like a little Aspen grove. The rustle of aspen leaves is so soothing. When the Am. Indians had a headache they would take a nap in an aspen grove.

      Delete
  11. yay for saving money, think i would have felt guilty too if I had let the other do it.

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    Replies
    1. Poke the Rock
      The difference in money was so minimal but it was fun to find Mr. Bushy charged me less.

      Delete
  12. Good for you, my loyal friend!!

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    Replies
    1. Fishducky
      That's me... Ole Red, White and Blue. Ha

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  13. See, it pays to remember good customer service and not take the 'quick' path :)

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    Replies
    1. Mark
      Right you are. I'm thinking Mr. Bradly isn't very busy or he would not have pushed so much for $50.

      Delete
  14. Great post, Manzi. I enjoyed seeing your world through your eyes and soul. Wished that we could hire tree cutters at Montana prices. $100 minimum over here. I've become very good at climbing ladders and sawing off limbs. The Mama's daughter, I am. LOL

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    Replies
    1. Su-sueee
      It all depends on the tree and how long it may take, I guess. I've paid a lot more but I was surprised that Bushy was less, About a month ago I had about 10 bushes taken out. Bushy sent his brother and on a Sunday, yet.
      You are a great gardener because you have a great teacher.

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  15. You are so nice. Saving money is a bonus too.

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    1. Murees
      Not necessarily so nice..... just doing my thing. I was surprised on Bush being less expensive. Had Mr. Bradly not stopped, I would have never known.

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  16. Loyalty pays off!

    I absolutely LOVE your header.

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    Replies
    1. Susan
      Thanks. It is Astilibe, a bush I planted in Bozeman. I just planted one here but with a red flower in place of the white.

      Delete
  17. It does indeed pay to be loyal.

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    1. Wendy
      I know it's important for a widow to keep a good relationship with certain workmen. We can't do a lot of that heavy stuff and need a good worker.

      Delete
  18. Hi Manzi. Loved your poetry in one of the comments above ! I think you did good to be loyal to Mr Bushy. You saved a bit of money as well, so a win win situation! I am so enjoying my little caravan and spending so much time with her ! Great fun.

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    Replies
    1. Thisisme
      That is Pat Hatt from "Its Rhyme Time." He writes children's books. Most visitors comment in rhyme. It's a lot of fun. Stop in and pay him a visit.

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    2. Thisisme
      I forgot to mention your caravan. I bet you posted on it today. I've been out pulling weeds so now I can read some blogs. I can hardly wait to see the pictures. I now you will have some good ones to post.

      Delete
  19. I love your header photo, what plant is that please?
    I'm glad you waited for Mr Bushy, he does know your trees after all. And that Mr Bradly seems a little pushy, he'd be the type to try and take advantage of an older person by saying the other trees have problems and need trimming or something. Or maybe he's just new and trying to get his business off the ground....

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    Replies
    1. River
      That is Astilibe. That one I planted in Bozeman when I lived there. I just planted one here (in Helena) and it is very small but they grow quickly. this one will have the red flowers in place of the white. They look so lacy and seem to be very hardy. They like some shade. I planted the new red one on the edge of the rock garden where it's half sun/shade. Hope it likes it there.
      Thanks for your input on the tree men. I had never heard of Mr. Bradly before that day he stopped.

      Delete
    2. River
      After Susan asked the name of the header, I realize I am confusing it with astilbe. Astilbe is a smaller plant and the one in the header is a shrub. I had 2 of them and they grow like crazy and I was always cutting them back. BUT, I can't remember the name of them. When I remember or find out, I'll let you know.

      Delete
  20. Ah, River beat me to the punch; I was gonna ask you about that flower in your header, too.

    I love your story. Sounds like good karma to me.

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    Replies
    1. Susan
      I said this is astilbe but I think that is wrong. This is more of a shrub but I can't think of the name. I had 2 of them in Bozeman. They are very hardy because I kept cutting them back and they love to bloom. When I find the name I'll let you know.

      Delete
  21. Good lesson for everyone there, Manzanita!

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    Replies
    1. Chuck
      Thanks. I dislike the temptation of having my plans interrupted as with the Bradly trimmer.

      Delete
  22. To be loyal is a good thing. And your header is beautiful.

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    Replies
    1. Inger
      Loyalty usually works out to be the best, Thanks

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  23. Love this story. True loyalty is so hard to find. You did the right thing as you seem to often do and hopefully it adds to the balance in the universe as it should.

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    Replies
    1. Jasmine
      That is such a nice thing that you said. I like thinking about the balance of the Universe. Lord knows we need it.

      Delete
  24. It paid off to be loyal, then. Good for you, Manzanita. I didn't expect this ending.

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    Replies
    1. I didn't expect this ending either but I guess that's what keeping your word is all about - doing it even when you think you will suffer for it.

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    2. Julia
      I honestly don't know what end I was looking for.

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    3. David Oliver
      Thank you for stopping and the comment. Everything turned out fine.

      Delete
  25. So many times I been stuck in that, but I already called so and so, place. Nice when it works out.

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    Replies
    1. Kelly
      Thank you for visiting. It is nice to meet you. It is a dilemma, isn't it?

      Delete
  26. HAhahaha! Girlfriend, you ROCK!!!

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    1. Red
      Thanks for stopping. You ROCK consistently.

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  27. Ten bucks will buy you two glasses of wine at happy hour. Money well kept.

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    Replies
    1. Mrs Tuna
      Oh yes, or it paid for 2 bags of compost mix that I used to plant the new trees.

      Delete
  28. Oops, forgive me, Manzanita. It's taken me this long to finally get on over here.

    This dude told me he worked at an office for the Tree Surgeons Union. I asked him, "what branch?"

    I think I'd better go now :)

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  29. Gary
    Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck...... but it's a good one. We all have to branch out once in a while and pack our trunk.

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