I am located up in the Black Mountains in Western NC. I just had a close friend from my Florida days call yesterday and ask me if we were going to come to their annual leaf peeping week at their cabin in the mountains in GA. When I reminded her (again) that the middle of October is peak time for us here at the B&B she said,"Well, can't you just block that week off and come anyway?"
Arrrgh!.
Not the best financial time to take a holiday, only you can judge that, but don't underestimate the emotional value of your "me" time with friends and family. Like you October is prime time for us, sure wish it would last several months, both for the income and the beautiful weather. Just once in a lot of years, but we did close one year in the middle of October for Maxine's parents 60th anniversary, now that mom is gone from us there is no way to place a value on that time away from the business.
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We took off a weekend last August to go to my mom's 80th birthday. It was the last time I saw her or spoke to her. She was gone 3 weeks later.
I'm taking her birthday off this year too and having myself a pity party. :-(
There is no amount of money that makes up for that time I got to spend with her and my kids, all together.
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Mort, I'm so sorry for the loss of your Mother. I count my blessings every day that I still have mine - as crazy as she makes me sometimes! I am actually going to see her this weekend (she is in Iowa) and I will give her a big hug for all my friends that have lost their Mums.
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and I will give her a big hug for all my friends that have lost their Mums.
Thank you. I "lost" my Mom 3 years before she died (the Big A).
Just had a 2-night visit from 2 cousins and reminisced about our parents and the rest of the family. (When we were 4, 5, & 6 respectively we all lived in the same apartment building) Both were so fixated on how much revenue I was going to lose because they were here - I think I finally convinced them that FAMILY is what counts. We were the 3 Musketeers when we all lived in Chicago before our families went their separate ways. And it was still the same. (All the spouses like each other too - and one is relatively new (first time
we met her).)
They wanted to take us all out to dinner. We convinced them not to. We had take-out the first night and sat around the table laughing and talking until almost Midnight. In the morning I was able to "show-off" with what I do. After cheeses & cracker lunch, we all went out to feed Punjab carrots, do the 50 cent tour of town, and show them the log house. Then I did supper of salad, scalloped corn, and salmon filets that was so easy - the oven did the work - and we sat around talking and laughing until about 10 when we retired to Himself's studio to watch a DVD of many of the 8mm films my Aunt & Uncle took between 1959 and 1967 - all 3 of our families were on it. Seeing how young our parents and other cousins were and trying to identify everyone.
I tell you all this to bring home a truth as I see it. DO NOT pass up time with distant family members if you have a chance to be together. Getting together and sharing means you may lose a little money - but it is only money. That family time will create a memory that will last long after that money would have been spent.
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