When I lived in England, another life time ago, I
often joked that I felt like a B&B owner with the visitors that came to
visit. I loved it. This past week I felt the same with my DF’s
visit and then my Ladies. Loved it all over againCurrent
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| My first B&B |
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| Current B&B |
After recouping I went to Philosophy Class on
Thursday evening, and really missed my familiar faces! Also missed my Friday morning routine , but
it was for a good cause. I volunteered
at the New York City Wine & Food Festival Friday through Sunday. The experience could be a book unto
itself. It was awesome. 
We’ve all heard
about the dream about escaping life, joining the circus, and becoming a
“carnie”? Well, I think I may join the
Festival, and become a “Festie”. (We
never truly lose our roots, I am from Milton after all. I had an Estate Sale, not a Yard sale,
remember?!). There are so many worlds
out there. And, I’m finding there’s a
Festival World. When I volunteered at
Rooftop Films this summer, I met wonderful People who follow Film Festivals and
freelance at them. I discovered the same
thing this weekend. And, I’m liking all
of these People that I’m meeting. The
fact that most are much younger, like my ladies, may have a lot to do with
it. Or, perhaps, I like the fact that
they have found their passion at an early age, and are living it?”
I discovered the NYCWFF last year, and was scheduled
to volunteer but had to back out. This
year, since I knew I’d be living here!, I made sure to apply early. The beneficiaries of this event are the NYC
Food Bank and Share Our Strength. It so
happens a good Friend’s Niece is the Director of NYC’s Share Our Strength. I had the pleasure of sharing dinner with her
last winter, so I reached out to her.
Through her recommendation, a phone interview, and luck, scored an Event Lead position, a manager of
sorts. My first assignment was in the
hospitality suite at the Hudson Hotel. I
was thrilled. Then I connected with the
manager of the suite who kindly said she didn’t need me. A bit of shuffling ensued, and I was given a
position at the Grand Tasting at Pier 94 on the Hudson River. Sweet.
I had visions of celebrity sightings, great food, perhaps wine at the
end of the shift.. |
| On the roof where some events were held |
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| Also on the Roof |
As I said, I could write a book just on three days…so, I will bullet some thoughts:
·
I love People/I hate People: It is not cheap to attend the NYCWFF. It is a great cause as 100% of the proceeds
go to the NYC Food Bank and Share Our Strength.
Registration
is like the cattle call feeling of the Disney lines..snaking barricades..People
don’t read, don’t listen and then get ”annoyed” because they are very busy and
important.
I
love the People I worked with..it took a day and a half before we
“Leaders” got our groove on well..The Boss I who I worked closest with, A, had
me pegged perfectly by that time ( if I were younger, and interested in a
relationship..). B and J are
amazing. The support Volunteers were
wonderful, and when one of the younger ones called me Mama Kathy Sunday afternoon, my heart
sang.
·
Most of the Guests were friendly , fun,
and excited. Sylvester Stallone came
right by me. I didn’t even see him, and
then realized that I didn’t care. Same
with Joe Namath. I did get to sneak away
for a bit, actually, A ordered me to, and I started to walk around the food hall..too
crazy and crowded..I went over to listen to Rachel Ray for a bit instead.
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| Entertaining the restless natives..God Bless them |
·
Then there were the VIPs (in their
minds, anyway..actually PIAs)..We had to hold the line for about 20 minutes on
Saturday, the busiest day. I had a name
tag on..so People asked lots of ?s of me (Remember, I had a walkie talkie). Needless to say, during holdups in waiting
times I wasn’t given much love or respect. One
guy finally told me he wasn’t interested in hearing any more of the same s..
from me; just get him in. (Thank God I
had shut him off by then. One of my Wonderful
Workers told me later and was impressed that I didn’t lose it..) When
we were finally able to open the gates again, a lady came and asked me if she’d
get some $ back for the time she had to wait.
I smiled! and said “All of your $ goes to the kids in this City who are
hungry. Have a great, fun, day.” I then turned around and said something not
very nice.
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| Seen while walong home..always wondered where those carraiges slept |
Sunday
afternoon is when I wanted to start slapping a very round man and his crew as
they were beating up some of my “Kids”. I
didn’t . All weekend I learned so much by
watching A react well, and kill people with kindness. I’ve been doing that for almost 40 years with
my Patients, but when you start with my Young’uns, the Mama Bear comes roaring
out…
·
At one point after some crisis time,
some Lady came onto the walkie talkie and asked me to please learn the lingo as
I was confusing the h..out of Everyone.
At Saturday morning’s briefing, we Event Leads were given a list of
lingo terms to use by AAL as obviously during Friday night’s de-brief it was
discussed. I tried to study it quickly
whenever I could, but once you started “live” there was not much time to
study. Well, when that call came
through, if you know me at all, you can imagine what I wanted to do with my
walkie-talkie. Thank God I had no idea
who the Lady was. AAL came to my side
almost immediately and gave me a crash course.
God love you!
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| Denise and Bobby Flay |
·
Each Evening when I was done I was
allowed to pop into the Foo-Foo events.
Friday night was Rachel Ray’s Burger Bash. Saturday night Bobby Flay hosted Tequila and
Tacos, and Sunday night was Le Sagra.
Honestly, by then, I was too tired, especially to fight the crowds. I grabbed something from the shortest lines
to feed my belly, and yes, I had some wine and one margartia (a no-no
technically as a volunteer..but I definitely didn’t abuse it, not this time!)
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| My New York Bosses and me with my walkie talkie |
·
One of my favorite moments was when I
was giving my “speech’ to our final group of volunteers on Sunday afternoon,
and as I looked around meeting the faces, smiling back at me was a very
familiar one. A, my “Boss’ from Rooftop Films, and one of my
favorites from my summer with them. I
was now her “boss”! She and I enjoyed
poking around La Sagra together .
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| Also seen while walking home |
·
My only regret is that I didn’t get to
chat much with my fellow Event Leads as I was outside and they were
inside. But we caught up, giggled, and
rehashed some of the craziness, again in snippets, when we did see each , other.. I have their emails, hopefully we can connect
and have a reunion. More new friends?!
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| Accepted Offer! |
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