By Cathy Sovinsky

I went to our local’s Farmer’s Market this morning, like I do every week of the summer and have been for eight summers now. There are two new vendors this year, mostly the regulars. I, of course, have my favorite people to buy my favorite things from. For the most part I’m not there to browse. I know who has the best quality things and that’s where I go.

Every year I buy gobs of basil and crates of tomatoes to make enough pesto and tomato sauce to get me through these Tahoe Winters. I’m sort of like an Italian squirrel! Since tomatoes aren’t at their peak yet, I’m starting on hoarding my basil. One of the new vendors caught my eye. She’s got some great looking produce, among which was some really nice looking basil. They had tender, young, pristine leaves, not a single hole from bug nibbles could be seen. I had to get me some of this! I picked up four bunches along with some other goodies and was headed out to my car when I had to pass by my regular “Basil Lady,” Jean’s, booth.

Until today she didn’t have much competition. I’ve been buying at least 6 bunches a week from her for years. She calls me the “basil lady.” She has no idea what my name is, only that I purchase $10 to $15 of basil every week. The last two weeks her basil has looked pretty tough; really large, overgrown, nibbled on leaves. I so wanted to just pass her by, but my loyalty tugged at me and I stepped under her tent. The market is getting crowded now that summer has finally arrived. We locals get it all to ourselves during June and October. Her little tent area was packed with people. She wouldn’t even notice if I just slipped by. But I was there, so I picked up the best two bunches I could find and got in a LINE to pay for them. Slowly the line crept toward the scale and cash box. There was only one person ahead of me in line now. She was a local woman in her early 30’s; an earthy, rugged sort of person. Clean, ironed clothes don’t appear to be a priority to her. Apparently she frequents my “Basil Lady” too because they were discussing the best produce to buy this week. While collecting money from her, Jean suggested she get the beets, “They are the best. And don’t throw away the greens because you can eat them too.”

The woman in front of me complied, “I love beets,” she said as she left the line, grabbed a bunch of beets and slipped back in front of the scale as the line behind me increased. Pulling out money to pay for the beets she asked Jean, “What do I do with the greens, just sauté them”

“Yes, with a little garlic and olive oil,” instructed the Basil Lady.

This, of course, caused the woman in front of me to leave the line AGAIN because she realized she needed garlic.

Reaching into her purse to pay for it Jean took it off the scale and placed it into the woman’s bag.

“This one’s on me,” she said.

The woman thanked her, finally gathered all her goods and left. It was my turn to pay for basil that I didn’t REALLY need that I got to wait entirely too long for. Jean realized there was a ridiculous line behind me and rushed me through barely saying hello or providing eye contact.

By this time I was fine to just get out of there but as I got home and began unpacking my treasures I began to fume. I’ve been buying things from her for EIGHT YEARS and she’s NEVER given me a thing. I never expected to be given anything until I saw her give something away. I mean when her basil is $2.30 a bunch she doesn’t round it off to $2.25. She’ll dig for three pennies to give me change in stead of giving me one of the thousand nickels in front of her. And that’s all fine. I’ve noticed she’s a little more exact than the other vendors, but I’ve always just appreciated her produce and that’s that. Now I know she does make exceptions, just not to me.

I have to tell you, I realize it’s only a $0.50 head of garlic. And I know it’s ridiculous to have even a minuscule reaction to the event, but never the less, I had one. I’m telling you this story because it did cause a reaction. My loyalty to her is less. I won’t have any trouble buying better quality produce elsewhere and passing her by. She doesn’t even know my name.

When things get busy in your office do you “neglect” certain people because they are the “nice people” and they will forgive you this once Is it just this once or have there been other times

Are your fees clean Do you have one fee for one service Are you giving little (or maybe large) things away here and there that others may be observing And not just other patients, but your staff. Are they seeing you do family plans or pre-pay plans under the guise of reducing your fees for certain people and not for others. Does anybody ever give them anything for free It can cause some huge resentment in both patients and staff. I felt it today over a few cents. And telling this story gets me all riled up again. Don’t let this be the story people tell about you around town and around the world. Be clean, be clear, be complete. Don’t give anyone an excuse not to come to you.