In Other Words with Dave

Nothing celebrates another trip around the sun like a reminder that your vision is failing, your tires need rotating, your teeth need cleaning, and apparently there’s some Kohl’s Cash with your name on it. 

Yes, I’m talking about birthday wishes from our friendly neighborhood businesses. I have to get up pretty early if I want to be the first to wish Alison a happy birthday. This year, her car dealership salesperson from four years ago beat me to it. 

I guess there’s something thoughtful about a business remembering your birthday, especially if there’s a discount or free dessert involved. For a local business, that little birthday email is really just another way of saying, “Hey, remember us? We remember you.” I can appreciate that. 

But the birthday greetings that matter most to me aren’t the ones delivered by a database. They’re the ones from my neighbor, the guy who lets us know we left our garage door open again. Or my oil change guy, who asks about my last motorcycle trip. My friend I meet for coffee, knows my kids and dogs, all by name. And there’s the longtime client I run into at the grocery store who asks about my Back40 and Outlook team and sticks around long enough to hear the answer. 

I think there’s still a little small town inside Edmond. We’ve grown, and we continue to grow, but there are still plenty of places around town where somebody knows my name. And it’s always nice to be remembered on your birthday. Even by your optometrist.