Word of the Day: Chef

#Middleagedwomen #career #chef #Sidehustle

Working as a waitress, hostess, and cook at Friendly’s Restaurant in Rome, New York, starting in 1980, has been off my resume for a long time. Even though I continued my food service career throughout college, during college breaks, and into my career as an event planner, constantly dealing with caterers, I hadn’t mentioned it until two weeks ago when I applied to be the rectory chef for the three priests at our church. I accepted the job the same day Pope Leo XIV was appointed, considering it a divine appointment.

I am leaving in a couple of hours to cook my first meal for them, and I am a bit nervous, like I was walking into a new client’s office for the first time. Can I do the job well? Will they like what I cook for them? Do I have the skills? Well, my Italian Grandmother’s favorite casserole is first up, so I know they’ll enjoy it. And because I have alopecia, they won’t find any hair in the food, and they save on hair net costs.

Sometimes, life pushes us back to our beginnings when we get to reanalyze where we started, the path we’ve taken, and where we stand now. As I start this exciting new job, I will be back to share some wisdom along the way and the Word of the Day.

For today at least, call me chef.