So the latest is that I am a waitress and bartender at a new place that opened up in Carroll Gardens. I haven't worked in the food industry at all since I was a teenager, and I would say it scares me, except that I don't serve anything except brick oven pizza and chocolate chip cookies and a full bar - low stress menu items. Bartending is something I happen to have a natural ability for, given my propensity to drink heavily and entertain civilly, both at the same time. Somewhere along the way, between my Food Network addiction and my alcohol addiction, I became quite the little cocktail maker and shaker.
I realize that my past 10 years of experience working in a law office as a legal secretary doesn't sound very applicable to bartending or waitressing in a trendy pizza joint, but you would be wrong about that. The similarities are startling and so many of the most important skills translate easily. They both have their upsides and downsides of course. The money is much better in law, as you would imagine, and I would even venture to say that lawyers are less obnoxious than the average hipster dufus asshat or mother with children under the age of 10 (I know I will regret saying that one day). But you really can't beat the general atmosphere, the laid back attitude and flexible schedule of the place I'm at now. I haven't had an actual job outside of my home in over a year other than my summer bookroom assistant job (the most low-stress engagement humanly imagineable), so it's nice to get back into working in a social atmosphere that isn't school related. I've already had a couple of harried waitressing experiences, but you learn your lessons fast when they're all you're taking home.
Summer classes begin soon, as does the bookroom job. I've got a packed schedule worked out, but I am so looking forward to all of it.
Meanwhile, life at home is a trainwreck. But I'm waiting for the burning embers of my personal life to stop sizzling before I start moving the furniture around and cleansing the corners of my new life.
Posted by Maria at May 21, 2008 01:11 PM | TrackBackKnowing what I know about you through posts in past years and these last few posts, reminds me of a time when I was in Jamaica on a riverwalk tour (yes, we actually donned watershoes and walked up a river with various types of cascading falls).
The rastafarian bushman who was our tourguide his name was Bones) was very philosophical - as we made our way up the river, at times the footing was easy, other times slipperly, other times we needed to help one another, and other times so beautiful that we all stopped for a while to bask in it. The rastaman said it is much like life. For each step we take the next one may be slipperly, the next one easy, others where we need help but along the way, we see beautiful things. Just remember to stop and appreciate them.
Maria - from the outside of your eyes, I envy you in many ways. What an amazing life thus far! You have seen things so far in your life, most people wouldn't over several lifetimes. Your riverwalk, while at times is downright trecherous and sometimes very sad, all gives way to more beauty them most will ever see. I think, when you turn around to look back down the river you are walking, you will appreciate just what you have accomplished. The tough times ahead, and there will be, you will be so ready for that when you step up to that next place, you will appreciate it even more.
Don't let these things get you down. Cry when you need to cry. Cry hard. But don't feel guilty to laugh when you need to. And laugh harder. You just keep walking up that river. And if you ask how, just as I did of Bones, he just sang "lookie lookie, steppie steppie, one foot at a time"
good luck :-)
Posted by: sb at May 22, 2008 11:28 PMThank you so much for taking the time to leave me this great comment. :) Your support and positive energy is deeply appreciated.
-M.