I started packing, planning my move back to northern California and realized I had about one week to take a vacation.  I wanted something with no stress and a cruise seemed the easiest way to leave it all behind and relax for a week before I put the boxes in a truck and headed north.

Problem was… It cost as much to travel solo on a cruise as it did to travel with someone.  No one I knew was on call for my spontaneous decision to escape, so I went online in search of a travel buddy.  I found a site called Cruisemates.com.  I quickly joined and wrote “Anyone want to go on a cruise to Alaska… next week!?!?!?”  I logged out and forgot about it.

The next morning while reading my email, a message said, “Still looking for someone to go to Alaska?”  That email changed my life and brought me Cynthia from New Jersey.

Once I am on my feet, I feed the dog, the bird, and make my favorite Stumptown coffee from Portland, Oregon.  But this morning I experienced an unexpected ah ha moment.

My mother had every day dishes and silverware in the kitchen, but she kept china and silver in the dining room cupboard to only be used for special occasions.  So every holiday, wedding, and funeral, I polished the silver and set the table with the finest place setting we had.  And then I had a wedding and I received all of the china and silver I needed for special occasions.  Years later, I inherited by mothers china and silver when Alzheimer’s took her out of life, and I stored it along with mine.

In the last 10 years I’ve moved six times!  Every time I wondered what I was going to do with all this silver and china.  I rarely used any of it, even if there was a special occasion.  I tried finding a buyer, but no one really wanted it.  I’d never give it away, even when I sold the buffet that had stored it for many years.  I have one son with no grandchildren and it doesn’t look like anyone will inherit it.  And I need to downsize!

This morning I reached into my silverware drawer and pulled out my “every day” spoon to stir the cream in my Stumptown coffee when I was struck with a bolt of an ah ha moment.  Why am I using this cheap silverware every day while waiting for the next Special Occasion to use the fine silver?  That was it!  I declared every day a special occasion!  I got my step stool, climbed to the dark cupboard and replaced my every day with my special day utensils.

What took me 65 years to declare every day a special occasion?  Doesn’t matter.  I never question an ah ha moment.  Anyone need a cheap set of every day silverware?

We had no plan of attack and quickly found ourselves opening our wallet to buy fanny packs, silks bags and pillow covers, a wok, and tea.  By the way, a tea tasting should not be missed if you visit.  We got well rested from our tea tasting and walked the final stretch of shops when we noticed a long line forming across the street.

Ruth and I didn’t want to miss anything so we crossed the street and went to the end of the line to find out what was going on.  We asked the couple in front of us why they were standing in line and much to our surprise, they shrugged and said they didn’t know!  They thought there was some kind of bakery down the street, but they weren’t sure and were asking the people in front of them.

Egg Custard Tart

Then two young women came up behind us and I turned and ask them if they knew what the line was for and they shrugged and said they had no idea.  So no one really knew what they were doing in a line.  The line was was growing faster than it was moving.  Still very few knew why they were getting in a line.

Finally a nice looking guy in line said he heard a bakery was down the street that had an incredible egg custard ta

rt.  Then the couple in front of us found out the the Barbeque Pork Buns were the big draw.  And someone else said just about anything is delicious.

The line moved slow enough for us to get acquainted with the people around us and enjoy our brief collision of waiting in line for something we knew nothing about.

As we got closer, people were coming out of a very tiny bakery with pink bakery boxes.  They were also munching on something they bought.

The bakery was the Golden Gate Bakery.  Women were selling pastries faster than they could bring them out of the oven.  Can there be anything better than a freshly baked sweet?  We were salivating by the time we got to the door.

You had to know what you wanted before you got in and the only display was a small window filled with trays of sweets.  It wasn’t appealing or attractive.  In fact, it was kind of disgusting.  But we got through the door and a woman yelled “Next!” from the end of a very crowded counter.  A fresh tray of egg custard tarts came out just as we ordered and before we knew it, it was in the bag and we were on our way out where the line was just as long as when we started the journey.

I thought how powerful a line can be for marketing.  If you could get 20 friends to stand in line and get the line started, you could probably sell just about anything all day.  But for our day in Chinatown, it was worth the half hour wait of being ridiculous and meeting other curious tourists that didn’t want to miss anything in this very precious section of San Francisco we call Chinatown.

Yum!

John of God

I’m planning a trip to Brazil this summer to see Rio and John of God.  Two extremes I’d say.  This is the diary of how the idea came about, the adventure and after I got home.

January 30, 2011

Dr. Darin Debera called from Brazil to go over our plans to visit John of God.

Thanksgiving 2010

It started when I woke up with a migraine one Saturday morning.  I was in bed with my head under a pillow drowsy from taking mega doses of Excedrin PM the night before.  And then I got the call.  A college friend, MiCherie, desperately needed my help.  I could barely talk, but I managed to say “yes” to a friend in need.

A few weeks earlier we were playing miniature golf at a local course and signed up for a contest.  The prize… 4 bicycles!  MiCherie caled to say she had won a bike and she wanted me to pick it up for her.  I had to pick it up by 10 AM.  She was on her way out of town to see her parents.

I drug myself out of bed and got to the miniature the golf course disheveled, with morning breath and still in my pajama top and jeans.  I told them I was Mycherie and instead of giving me the bicycle, they pointed to a group of 3 young boys under 10 years of age.  “That is your team.”

Team?  Now I find out that you have to play golf to win the bike.  There were 4 four groups of 4 you kids each.  I was the only adult.  The team that won the game of golf would take home four bicycles.  I felt sick at my stomach, but managed to take a club and follow the boys to help everyone win a bicycle.

My headache had lessened and I took my club and began the game.  These kids were seriously intent on winning a bike and looked unhappy to have drawn an adult to be on their team.  Co-dependently, I didn’t want to let anyone down, so now I was playing for than my friend.

After the 3rd hole, when we were doing pretty good, a big Crysler pulled up next to the white picket fence surrounding the course.  I didn’t pay any attention until I heard, “Jean!  What are you doing here?”

My headache came thundering back.   I looked up to see another real snooty college friend.  Trying to not confuse the little boys, I said, “Well, we are trying to win a bicycle.”  She exclaimed, “Well, I came down here to see Mycherie play.  Where is she?”

I didn’t realize that the radio station sponsoring the contest  was owned by Miss Snooty’s husband.  With her hands planted in her hips she informed me that I couldn’t get away with fraud.  Fraud?!  The kids are beginning to notice.  Then Miss Snoot leans over and says, “If your team loses, I won’t say anything, but if you win, I must bring it to their attention.”  And she was just pious enough to do it.

I was now determined to lose this game to save my face.  We moved on to Hole #5.  I took my turn, aimed away from the hole and hit.  The ball unbelievably found it’s way to the hole!  The kids were ecstatic and were playing really well.  We seemed to have the best team of all groups.  My head was pounding and my stomach was not happy.

As we moved through the course I tried to keep my ball from going in the hole but like a magnet, it went in no matter where I aimed.  Things were not looking good.

From Hole #8 until the end, no matter where we aimed our balls, our score was well under par.  The kids were jumping up and down thinking they would be the winners for sure.  I could only hope that the other 3 teams were doing better.

The judges huddled behind the desk calculating scores.  Ms. Snoot approached me and said, “Your team has won and I cannot let you get away with this.”  I pleaded!  “Please don’t!  I won’t take a bike.  Give it to someone else.”  But Miss Puritanical marched up to the judges and turned me in.  The glares will never be forgotten.

The owner took all of the kids, including me, to a small storage room and revealed my true identity.  All I wanted was to get out of there!  The owner said that we would have a vote and decide whether the kids could win the bikes.  Every other kid voted to not give them a bike even though it wasn’t their fault and the second place team won the bicycles.

I apologized to the kids.  If I’d had enough money, I would have bought them all bicycles.  About to vomit, I ducked out headed back to the pillow I’d left a few hours earlier.

The 3 little boys are probably telling their story about how they lost a bicycle because of an adult impostor.   Over the years, I’ve wondered if I could have done anything differently.  Should I have been more bold and talked to the judges myself?  Should I have flattened Linda?  Bought the kids bikes.  Shoulda’ woulda’ coulda?   I learned that no matter what, when asked to do something for someone, be sure to take care of yourself first.  Lesson learned.

Training strategist with creative perspective, entrepreneurial drive and repeated success in the production of training products, public awareness initiatives, multimedia , and accessibility.  Twelve years of independent contracting and positions in higher education.  Producer of high-performance video training tutorials distinguished for achieving institutional awareness goals through multi-platform digital and traditional media.  Talented copywriter, skilled spokesperson and trainer with exceptional ability to craft powerful messages and stories.

California State University

Accomplished and dedicated business professional with a background that reflects the ability to engage and educate staff and faculty in the effective utilization of universal design and accessibility elements in media and documents used for educational and promotional purposes.   Work with system-wide clients to avoid potential non-compliance of mandated laws of accessibility.

Highly skilled in conducting needs analysis and devising custom solutions that meet the professional objectives of the Accessible Technology Initiative.  Initiate and negotiate system-wide contracting for services and products.  Adept at managing multiple tasks simultaneously and readily assume increased responsibility to surpass business expectation.  Committed and motivated with demonstrated skill in working in dynamic environments.