Careers

I’ve always thought of fun things to do as a career. My first, age 11, was helicopter pilot. As I sit at my desk I’m watching a Coast Guard exercise. A few weeks ago they set a ship on fire way off the coast, and it went out almost immediately. Then it flared up again and I called the Coast Guard… on the Coast Guard.

They’re having this one close to shore, and their helo pilots are incredible. I’ve seen the winds pick up to 60 mph out of nowhere and they just hang there outside our windows like there’s no wind at all for an hour, herding in all the ships stuck at sea and towing some in.

We had a substitute teacher for a few weeks who was a pilot and I ended up with all the schematics and control panel diagrams for several helicopters back in the day. My husband still threatens to get a private plane and have me train as a pilot as well but those days are over.

I always wanted to name the colors of crayons or paint. Crayons because Mom would never let me get the 64-box and “burnt sienna” was my favorite color. Paint because how many kinds of white can you have including ecru and eggshell? It’s a challenge.

At one time I actually wanted to become a lawyer. Thank goodness I talked myself out of that one. I’d be the best Mom on campus, I know that, and everyone would want me in their study group because I’d bring hors d’oeuvres.

Politician? Not so much. I’ve worked for them and many deserve the reputation of being voted lower in public confidence than used car salesmen. Plus, I’d never put my family through that.

Political commentator, public activist and volunteer leader. I’ve done all those, still do (wink wink, nudge nudge) and enjoy it.

Mom, I wanted to be one but it’s too late for me on that score. Dog Mom, I do very well. Cat Mom as well but my husband is deathly allergic to cats so I await a farm house where the strays all come to me and I get them spayed/neutered and give them good food and provide outdoor shelter for storms and cold weather. My own cat house, what a concept. Heated floors, fresh water and plentiful food.

Chef, I like my own kitchen and have even made a food snob of my husband, whose idea of food was individually wrapped string cheese before he met me. Now he asks how many years the cheddar should be aged. I can teach cooking but it takes much time and effort and in the end I feel as if I’m making $1/hr.

Surfer. There’s one I tried in my teens and never mastered. First off, I was on the wrong coast, kids from school showed up on our doorstep 1,000 miles from home and brought boards.

Dancer. Sounds easy, but is very difficult. Ballet taught me to do gymnastics (bad at it) and lead our team and teach. Balance.

Team lead of anything. That I can do, and love to do. Coaching and inspiring people to be their best is what I do.

Writer. I try. My husband wants me to write a novel, anything but a cookbook. I see this as a success because over 60,000 people have read this blog and I overcame a fear of writing. If in grade school, high school or college I could write 500 words in ten minutes I’d have always been at the top of the class, thanks to Mom and Aunts L and J. Now it’s fun. Only you are grading me.

Think about what you’d like to do and don’t say food critic. That means you eat great food for free, then complain about it. It’s why that was not on my list. Mangia bene. Dee