Loving What We Are Doing

The kumquat tree produces a new harvest every year it lives.

My friend, Linda is having the time of her life. I do envy her this, while at the same time she is such an inspiration for doing what you love at this end our our lives.

Let me tell you about Linda.

She is a master chef, having learned from her mother, Rita, and studying with Julia Childs.

She had her own catering business and still caters for special occasions.

She had a shop in the town center mall for awhile. One story she told me about this was that she made gingerbread cookies for her customers during the winter holidays. Hilary Clinton was passing through on a campaign trip and Linda made one cookie for Bill and one for Hilary. Hilary graciously received the cookies and then bit the head off the cookie for Bill.

Linda has worked in varied management positions in food service for retirement homes. In her most recent job, it was her great cooking that brought in many new residents. The management treated her badly, not responding to her need for more help and less hours, so she left. I admire people who will not settle for such oppression. Linda's sense of justice will not allow her to do that.

Speaking of her sense of justice, Linda also has taken on the city council and a public parking policy which makes her neighborhood's streets a parking lot. She intends to bribe them, in keeping with government agency under the table ways of doing things. At their next meeting where the issue will be addressed, Linda intends to take a home made apple pie to them, complete with a large knife to plunge into it to slice it (all right that knife part of it was my idea - one I got from a movie).

Today, Linda is teaching adult cooking classes around Keene, having the time of her life.

 She had been pondering this possibility for several years. At one point she thought about doing it out of her own home, but the regulations for such an endeavor squelched that desire.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the opportunity came knocking at her door, to teach cooking.  So, since  this is what she does best and loves to do, this is what she is doing.

She and I are at the other end of our lives.

Along with many others our age we are tired of having jobs, but not ready to sit in a rocker, watching TV all day, and wasting away to oblivion.

We have the opportunity to be doing what we love. When we are clear about what we love and how we see ourselves doing it, it knocks on the door, calls us on the phone, or sends us an email. All we have to do is say yes.

We can also change history with what we do best. Just ask Linda!!

What is it you love to do?  What's your modus operandi for doing what you love?