Birthdays, Bikes, and Blizzard Blunders: Real Family, Real Business, Real Life

Down-home Birthdays: Life Before Pinatas and Party Rooms

Honestly, when I look back at birthdays before I hit 12, they were about as far from “Pinterest-perfect” as you can get—and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Shirley kicked off our chat with her memories of mom whipping up everyone’s favorite meal. Hers? Chicken noodle soup—homemade noodles, of course. The dessert was the stuff of small-town legend: cherry Jell-O, vanilla pudding (from scratch!), and canned cherries. Pure comfort.

For Tom, whose birthday fell right in the middle of the Christmas chaos, it was usually “just another day”—maybe a cake, maybe some hand-me-down jeans or socks, and always the feeling that the Christmas present and birthday present were actually the same thing.

I laughed with Kim about the legendary lemon cake she got every year (she still asks for it!). And we all remembered the thrill of bringing homemade treats to school before store-bought everything became the rule. Shirley even started a cupcake trend one year when her mom surprised the whole class. Funny how one generous act can kick off a new tradition.

Celebrating Then vs. Now: No Bouncy Castles Required

Our celebrations didn’t need a trip to Action City or a rented party room to feel special. Parties were at home—sometimes with cousins, sometimes just us kids. Getting a surprise party, like Shirley did at 18, was a huge deal. We spent most birthdays hanging out with family, eating our favorite food, and blowing out candles on cakes that actually tasted homemade.

And gifts? Usually practical—handkerchiefs, a little piece of jewelry, maybe a new bike if you were really lucky. I still remember when Kim and I scored those matching purple bikes because she had to get her tonsils out and got her present early. Total win.

When the Customer Is Definitely Not Right: Stories from the Other Side

Switching gears, our group couldn’t help but dive into the wild world of customer service. If you’ve ever worked retail, you know what I mean! Kim’s “melted ice cream cake” story is the stuff of legend: a woman who left her DQ cake on the counter, then called furious demanding a free replacement. Kim admits she eventually snapped (we’ve all been there) and said exactly what was on her mind. Lesson learned: even when they’re wrong, you’ve got to bite your tongue.

We shared a load of mix-ups over Blizzard orders—turns out, you can’t order an “Oreo Cookie Dough Blizzard” because it doesn’t exist, but customers will try! Most of those problems can be solved by just, you know, listening.

How We’ve Learned (and Laughed) Our Way Through It

Tom had the best advice: let customers vent, don’t take it personally, and don’t let one cranky person ruin your whole day. Sometimes, they just want to be heard. Every once in a while, you even get a customer who comes back and apologizes after realizing their mistake (those are the golden unicorns of retail).

We also talked about what we do differently now—real customer service means more than just putting out fires. It’s about saying hello, making someone feel seen, and setting a good vibe right from the start.

In the end, whether we were talking about the first bike in the basement or a sticky situation at the service counter, the truth is: family, humor, and patience go a long way. If you’ve got a weird birthday memory or a customer service story that you’ll never forget, welcome to the club! Thanks for hanging out with us on Mixing Family and Business—can’t wait to do it again next week!

Make sure to listen to the full episode here!