This weekend I chaired a board of 7 women who served a luncheon of soup, salad, and bread to over 300 women followed by a dessert served to that same number. It was a sweet experience that enabled me to see those sweet women with whom I served in a kind light - the light of service. Their dedication to helping, their ability to laugh in tense moments, and their sweet service touched my heart. I will never forget this past weekend and the ten+ hours in the church kitchen with them - add to that the hours and hours of planning and shopping - and their service and capacity for kindness and graciousness takes my breath away.
What I would like to forget is the other end of the spectrum - the things that made me laugh and contemplate the quirkiness of human nature. What do I mean? Let me see if I can show you a few snapshots of 'quirkiness' to see if you can get an inkling as to what I mean.
The first and probably most 'quirky' example would have to be the Chocolate Purse Sweeper. She is so named because of her ability to sweep dozens of Ghiradelli Chocolate Squares into her purse with a smooth swoop of her arm. Her modus operandi was to survey the tables either before the luncheon started or immediately thereafter and make a sweep with her arm to load her purse with what she possibly viewed as "extra" Ghiradelli Chocolate Squares. Now, I'm not sure what her motives were. Perhaps she just really LIKED chocolate and couldn't fathom there being any other woman who would need that chocolate NEARLY as BAD as she did so she decided to obtain said chocolate for the most deserving. OR perhaps she saw that several women didn't need the extra calories (I am NOT saying there was anyone there slightly overweight - I am merely posing supposed mind slants held by this 'quirky' character) and so decided to rid them of the temptation. OR perhaps she had a sister or two she Visit Teaches and she thought she'd take some (loosely termed as such - because there were quite the number of chocolates swept into her purse - so some would be a loosely used term) to the people whom she visit teaches. I just don't know WHY she decided to sweep chocolate in her purse - but it is obvious that sweeping chocolate is a 'quirky' behavior so I lay it out there for your perusal.
The second 'quirky' incident would have to be the woman who in her most Imperial Highness Command Voice ordered that a particular crock of soup be removed from the table as it was not fit for human consumption. (A note on that soup - I later tried it and it tasted perfectly fine. Plus, I know the sweet girl who made that soup and she is an excellent cook and there is NO POSSIBLE WAY there was anything wrong with the soup. I attribute the woman and her excellent ability to play Her Royal Quirky Highness as the culprits.) I'm telling you - there was NOTHING wrong with the soup. It had to be Her Highness and her inability to deign to try green soup or something as ludicrous as that. Highly comical. Highly quixotic. Highly 'quirky'.
The third and final 'quirky' moment is characterized by the "Non Awareness of My Trash" women. This final 'quirky' example is not embodied by a mere person or two, but rather by the entire number of the masses. These women could not make the connection between the fact that they were eating off of paper and perhaps that paper would and should be their responsibility until they had properly disposed of it in the proper trash receptacle. Odd, for so many women who do dishes and laundry and work at home to not connect to the fact that their trash should be removed by themselves (otherwise known as "Yours Truly" when one is referring to oneself). VERY QUIRKY behavior - and oddly exhibited by Almost ALL of the partaking luncheoners. I'm not sure as to the motive, hence my ability and propensity to place this particular mass event in the 'quirky' category.
So there you have it. A good weekend. But filled with quirky moments.
Did the quirky moments make it so I could not enjoy the weekend and the sweet service and sisterhood that was in abundance this weekend? No.
What I experienced this weekend was extraordinary. I fell in love with the sweet sisters who shared the kitchen with me and who worked their little hearts out. I now love them deeply and I am deeply grateful for their friendship.
A tremendous weekend. One for the records. Thank you, Stacy, Annette, Michelle, Cicily, Kiran and Dee Dee. You are representative of the elite in our society.
