My Labor Day this year is bittersweet in many ways. Over the past 8 years or so, I've been instrumental in setting up and running a food concession at an historical reenactment. In essence, historical drag. At the beginning of all of this of course I was younger and the whole two day event proved to be very fun and very profitable. As with everything else over the years, things change.
To make a long story short, this very strong attachment to my past life is almost over, and it's time. I've become a believer that Mamma Karma leads us in more than a couple ways. Shock and awe- in what she can do in a short period of time is one and an even push in the back is another. She pushed me this time to a point where even I can see the writing on the wall, in no uncertain terms.
The good part is my daughter's family (including grand kids) have an opportunity to continue this venture if they desire and there is a huge waiting list for any kind of a spot in this festival. The other plus is I don't have to worry again about any connections to a previous life and gender which is shrinking in my rear mirror.
The irony isn't lost on me either. After 33+ years in the restaurant business, all of the summer holidays were no fun. Often I worked all of them and they were extremely difficult to staff and plan for. Good weather you were slow and bad weather you were busy. The rule of thumb was your guests were aggravated the last day of the weekend because they had to go back to work and the crew because they had to work it. Not a match made anywhere close to heaven.
So here I am, working the last summer day holiday of the season in the food business for the last time. Plus it is the last hurrah for my life as be all do all male in that business.
Should I shed a tear? Perhaps, but then again, it's true that an end is just a new beginning and to be sure the tears may have flowed a bit as I wrote this.
I have to finish this though with one well worn line from my business past: the bottom line is "can the drama queen" effects Cyrsti, this beginning happened a long time ago and the future looks so bright I have to wear shades!
