They farmed and my grandfather was a cobbler. He died when I was two years old, but grandma lived until I was sixteen. Shortly before she dies she attended my sixteenth birthday party. During the party I was excited because I was able to start working. My older siblings were telling me that once I started working I would no longer be excited. Grandmother stated that you should always have a job that makes you happy. If you are not happy in your work you are not happy in the rest of your life.

When I first started my career as a social worker I was happy in my work. But through the years there have been so many cut backs and rule changes that is has no longer been fun. I started considering other things I could do for a living. My mother mentioned to me that I loved working with children and with food. I should look into catering children's events. She added that this was something grandma would have approved of. I began looking into catering in our area and found that there was a need. I thought I could have a general business and advertise that I specialize in kids birthday parties.

I got a break the first week I opened. Friends of mine were having a sweet sixteen birthday bash for their only daughter. They have a big yard that lead to a nice swimming area on the lake. Her birthday was in the summer but she did not want anything barbequed. They hired me to cater the party, I think mainly because their daughter is so difficult to work with that they did not want to be involved. She met with me and told me what she wanted. I thought it was quite extravagant for a kids birthday party, but the parents gave the go ahead. She wanted shrimp cocktails followed by finger sandwiches and several salads. She also wanted a whip cream cake. The day went very well and all the menu items turned out perfectly, especially the cake. This was a huge break for me because all the other girls in the area wanted me to cater for them. It was not quite the kids birthday parties I had in mind when I started, but they paid very well. Here and there I do younger kids birthday parties, but now that I have been in the business a while I am starting to cater the weddings of the girls whose sixteenth birthday parties I planned years ago. I love the work that is mine to do. I know grandma would be pleased.