recovering from the parties......

Finally the day has arrived that my alarmclock didn't have to be set for 4 AM.... No rush to jump out of bed to make sure that all equipment is packed, food bought, and directions taken for the next Christmas party that someone just remembered that they had to sponsor this year. I was able to get up on my own at 7 AM, after a long restful night of sleep, and great dreams of finishing my own shopping for my husband and son. The pressure is off, and life is manageable again.

During the last couple of weeks, my two partners and I have catered over 60 parties, ranging in sizes of 7 to 300 people each. Needless to say, this is my busiest time of year, and the state of Georgia, sales and use tax division, will receive their fattest check yet from us. This is a tricky procedure that Georgia plays on us each month, as we do not have a universal sales tax across the state. Depending on the county we deliver to, the sales tax could range anywhere from 5 - 7%, which then has to be divided out for the state in order for them to make sure the monies are distributed to each county by their special codes. This is a procedure I handed over to my bookkeeper a few years back with the explanation that I "take, cook, and deliver" the beans, not count them.

This is also the time of year that does not come without it's share of injuries and minor malfunctions, and 2005 was no exception. Luckily I did not break a toe as I have in the past, but instead ended up with a nice size bruise (size of a baseball) on my leg. I just didn't see that trailer hitch on the back of the truck and whammed into it in all my haste to make sure I packed every bit of equipment for a particular job. (Yes, I saw stars!... and yes, I cursed; another bad habit of mine that I forgot to list on my last post.) I also managed to slice my middle finger open, which I chalk up to karma, as I have used it freely to cuss out one of my partners who deems himself "boss" in our partnership. Of course he never sees me use it, but apparently God did; hence my injury.

On any given day during December, we were able to deliver anywhere from one to eleven jobs to customers in the metro (and not so metro) areas of Atlanta. One person who works in a restaurant next to our kitchen asked us where we were going that day, and in my tired and fragile mind of the moment I answered: "every fucking corner of the God-damned state of Georgia". Ok.... you have never seen me swear before, and I will never do it again, but in order to get my point across, I decided not to delete or soften the words, as I did say them, and will expect my karma points to lessen due to my foul temper. My Neanderthal methods have a way of surfacing when I am exhausted, and beyond reasoning with myself that self-control is a virtue.... besides, I always feel immediately better after I get the madness out. It is somewhat like releasing a pressure valve of steam for me.... then I can continue on with the work at hand, being my jolly little self again. Short bursts of anger, not necessarily directed at anyone, and only after I've had more than I can take, is usually my key to keeping the rest of myself intact.

The best part of the job is when we deliver the food, and everyone waiting on their arrival is in a merry mood, salivating over their meal choice for the night. The houses we deliver to are not just your ordinary little abodes.... they are mini mansions (or McMansions, as I call them) in exclusive neighborhoods that you are announced to the recipients from their front gates. Decorations have taken on a new height in these subdivisions, and the lights, trees and all around appearance is that of a winter wonderland.... minus of snow. These people do not put out any plastic Santas or the blow-up Snowmen.... no sir! Wreaths are hung from all outside windows, with their customary candles; and Christmas trees reach up to their 25 foot ceilings fully adorned with lights, bulbs and rather large packages perfectly placed underneath.
Ah, the good life I think.... then my practical side takes over and I wonder how they can afford to pay the mortgage on such a place. But what me worry? As long as they pay my salary for the night (with a nice tip on the side), I give them all my company has to offer... and more. It usually pays off, as I do have quite a few repeat customers who wouldn't consider using anyone else, and in turn recommends me to their friends.

So with only a few more parties to go, I can sit back and relax a little bit, knowing that another December has been executed to it's fullest. I was even able to take yesterday off to go to my husbands family party in Alabama. To be honest with you, that was the best party of all. His family is "good people", loving, warm and wonderful to be with. It usually starts off with a blessing said by a member of the family before we actually get started with the food. This year there was a little twist to the procedures as my brother-in-law announced that we should go around the room and each say what we were particularly blessed with. My turn came, and I choked.... literally! It wasn't because I wasn't grateful... only that I was blessed that I didn't have to cook (or deliver) anything.... and felt that it was out of place for me to say so. Everyone else had said wonderful things about family, friends, safe trips... and here I was only thinking about myself. My husband came to the rescue (after a prolonged silence from me) and took over with his blessing. Now this may seem rather silly to you, but here I was, the only one who did not bow my head in respect with eyes closed as everyone else did... then I choked when my turn came. I felt like an outsider to myself. Being that these are good people... it didn't matter to them a bit, and they were grateful that I had taken the time off to show up, as it is only the second party I've been able to make in the last 14 years or so. Hmmm.... did I mention that this was the best party I have been to all year?

So today I say my blessing, given that I've had time to think about it without managing to juggle parties and equipment in my head at the same time. Here goes:

I am blessed to have a wonderful family, so that I do not always feel like I need to show off my independence to the world. There is a certain a safety net in all of this, that I sometimes take for granted.... and Lord knows, we all need those nets when the bleakest times arrive unannounced.

I am blessed to have all kinds of new friends that I have met through the net, who have become my second support system and allowed me to ramble on about lifes trials and tribulations.

I am blessed to have had that long lecture from my Dad when I was first going out in the world.
He stressed to me that I needed to learn self-reliance, as I needed to become a survivor in the ever-changing matters of life. Depending on other people only went so far, the rest was up to me and the "salable skills" I was now faced with learning.

I am blessed to live in a great environment, with terrific neighbors who watch out for one another. It is one of the reasons that I stay here and have hesitated about moving to a county with taxes that won't break my piggy bank.

Last, but not least, I am blessed to have a true grasp on the little things things in life that make it worth being part of. I truly believe that "with all it's sham and drudgery, it is still a beautiful world".