a new life

Last night, I worked my first gig as a catering server.

We were busy setting up chairs, setting tables with silverware and glasses.  

We served pre-dinner cocktails and appetizers while guests mingled in the garden.  The restaurant is next to the river and the gardens were lovely with the warm breeze and setting sun. 

I ran salads, the meal, and then dessert; collecting empty plates between each course.  

I refilled wine glasses, fetched drinks, and helped clean up.

After the party there was the putting away of clean glasses and silver, tossing dirty linens, and folding and putting away the chairs.  Everyone moved swiftly, eager to wrap up and go home.

The whole time I kept thinking....this is so EASY!  

There is no stress, no mental exhaustion, everything happened in a rehearsed and orderly sequence.  There was a head server who pretty much told me what to do so no real THINKING was involved.  It was all just physical movement and smiling.

Everyone was welcoming, professional, and worked just as hard (if not harder) as me.  

The guests were polite and appreciative.

At the end of the night we were paid and I was very pleased.  

There was no feeling that my hard work wasn't appreciated or worthless.

If you can believe it, I made just over  the  same amount as one day of teaching.

Last year, I remember thinking, I'd rather be waiting tables than doing this.  I just knew that it could be better.  

And it was.

 For the past two months, I've never felt so relaxed, so free.  There is no anxious knot in the pit of my stomach, no dread of going to work tomorrow.  

No daily confrontations with ill mannered students, no unending pile of paperwork, no early wake up call, no traffic.

Boy, am I glad I made this choice.