I once ran a women’s clothing store and I was lousy
at it. Main reason? I loved the merchandise and went to market with me in mind.
My attitude going in was “Oh that’s cute. If it doesn’t sell, I’ll wear it
myself,” which for anyone who knows anything about women’s clothing and retail knows this is the #1 way to be out of business fast. My dad used to say I was going to be
the best dressed girl in bankruptcy court. Fortunately I shut ‘er down before
we got that far, but he was right. I would’ve had any number of cute outfits to
choose from had it come to that.
Was talking with a fellow writer last week... I asked how
he kept from taking on projects that didn’t excite. (Unlike me with cookbooks, my
friend takes on various assignments, meaning he ghostwrites, has several
successful biographies to his credit, covers the music industry….that sort of
thing.) His answer: I up my price.
Seemed a good strategy, after all, writers have to eat too, and like any
profession until you get going, it can be tempting to take any and all paying
gigs if it means you’re writing. But I get what he was saying. If the passion’s
not there, you might as well ask big, cause you obviously don’t care if you get
the job or not. But if it pays off your car, well…you could justify that for a
little while anyway. (Fortunately for my friend, he’s got a waiting list of
folks wanting his talents so his car is paid for.)
I thought about our conversation this morning when
someone FB’d to ask what I was selling the puppies for. For the record, I
decided to breed Rosey for two reasons: 1) her temperament is so unique, I
wanted to clone her...But since that wasn’t an option, allowing her 1 litter of
pups was the next best thing; 2) I had at least 3 farmer friends whose working Pyrs
were aging. Making her offspring available to those I love looking to replace their own working farm
dogs seemed a reasonable proposition, ‘cause Lord knows, I’m not making a dime
off any goats for fear someone might eat one.
But when I looked around this morning at the batch
of pups she’s hatched…
When I got down on my knees as I do about 20 times
a day, to have puppies crawling all over me, sucking on my nose, my earlobes,
my fingers…
When I fell into a sea of white fluff, their little
tails wagging and their little chunky legs wobbling all over me, the floor,
each other…I realized I’m no wiser than I was back when trying to run a
clothing store…if anything, I’m worse, cause these are living, breathing, adorable
angels with fur. To say I’m in love with the inventory would be an
understatement.
With three of the seven pups spoken for before they
were even born, it’s starting to dawn on me I’ve got more than enough people now,
wanting the rest, which means I’ve got about 2 more weeks of this bliss…and then
what? A silent basement? No puppies to come home to? No cute little wobbly
things to cuddle, coddle and cradle?
Going rate for a purebred Pyr with no AKC papers
ranges anywhere from $250 - $500 in these parts. Given vet bills, food costs
and the like, I’ve priced Rosey’s at $300, though I’m now rethinking that
proposition.
For those of you who’ve left deposits, your price
remains the same. For the rest of you, I’m thinking -- $5,000
a pup?
(I am, of course, kidding. Much as I’m gonna miss
these little buggers, I am looking forward to having Rosey back to myself and
TJ looks forward to having his sister back on duty watching the goats.) Still
and so, what a journey this has been. If
I had to put a price tag on the many “now” moments I’ve been blessed with these
past 4 weeks, it would, without a doubt, prove priceless.
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