A Psychology Class Experiment?

I'm blogging in one of my favorite spots.  On the wicker couch on the front porch.  It is a beautiful evening and Marg and I are going to have (chicken) Italian sausage with sauteed onions and green pepper, sweet corn on the cob, and spaetzle.  Yummmo!

I ordered shopping bags with the Kirby House logo and website address.  These are the kind of bags you get for the grocery store so you don't have to use those god-aweful plastic bags (which are made with oil).  The bags came today and I thought it would be a good idea to bring 60 of them (with a brochure inside) to the sidewalk sale in Saugatuck and Douglas and pass them out free.  Our experience could have been a project for a psychology class.  At first we said "Would you like a free shopping bag?"  Most responses were "no" and a fast paced walk away.  Hmmmm.  Ok, let's change it to "complimentary" and there were some takers.  Then I changed it to "Would you like a free shopping bag compliments of the Kirby House."  A little more interest.  By the time we got to Saugatuck I changed "shopping bag" to "tote bag" so now the question was "Would you like a free tote bag compliments of the Kirby House."  BAM!  That worked on most.  What we found is that most people seemed to think there was a "catch."  Or maybe they thought we would then try to sell them something or talk about something.  Marguerite approached two ladies and they practically fell down tripping over each other trying to ignor her and change their course of travel.  I think they were probably from Detroit or Chicago and thought "Oh no!  Here is a homeless person asking us for money."  It was an interesting experience and shows how suspicious people are when you are nice to them.  I just thought it would be good advertising.  Even if they never stay here...there were 60 bags on the shoulders of 60 people at the sidewalk sale advertising The Kirby House.  Let's see how many copy me next year. 

I've felt good (emotionally) today.  Tomorrow night Marguerite and I may go to Everyday People Cafe (EPC) and eat appetizers out back and listen to Libby York.  She is an AWESOME jazz singer Ray and I met a few years ago at EPC.  She even came for breakfast one morning.  I got an email from her about the dates she was singing there and tomorrow is one of the nights.  Her website is http://www.libbyyork.com/. 

God bless.  - Jimmy