No 'Run of the Mill' Jobs Here

In 2004, I walked away from my traditional job, with benefits and guaranteed paychecks every two weeks, as long as I put in my shifts. It was a precarious leap of faith, but one for which I have no regrets.

Aside from working our last two federal elections as a poll supervisor, I have been my own boss ever since. Unfortunately (?) I cannot give you a succinct, one or two word job description. I hate filling out those forms that ask what I do for living. Quite simply, the honest answer would be whatever it takes.

Once upon a time, I was a 'server'. I was the girl behind the counter that always had a smile when I handed you your coffee, sandwich and donut. Once you were done I cleaned up your messy table, washed your dishes and at the end of my day, I wiped your footprints off the restaurant floor.

These days I flex, with the seasons, society, my family's needs and my physical abilities. There's no such thing as 'A day in the life', because no two days are ever the same. Right this second, I'm attempting to add a few bucks to the coffers by selling words. Once I've sucked back my morning coffee, I'll head to my kitchen and fire up the oven. Someone needs a tray of assorted squares and cookies for a luncheon tomorrow. As those bake, I'll transform beets, beans and cucumbers from my garden into pickles, that other folks either don't have the time or the skill to make for themselves.

While all things cool on counters and table, I'll head out my door. There are goats to milk, eggs to gather, pigs and rabbits to feed and cows to check. The bottle babies... today there's a piglet, a calf and a lamb... will be eagerly awaiting breakfast. Eggs sell with a simple wash, or with a tad more effort, I'll toss them into the incubator to be sold as chicks or hens, sometimes even a rooster, although the boys most often end up in my own freezer. Goat's milk saves us a ton of money in comparison to having to buy milk replacer for orphaned calves, pigs, goats and whatever other critter that may end up on my doorstep or if there are no orphans to feed, I can always make soap. As for the pigs and cows... I think those are pretty self-explanatory. MMMMM! BACON! or steak or hamburger... whatever turns your crank and makes your mouth water. Meat is all sold 'live on the hoof', we'll haul them to the butcher, but the rest is between you and him. I much prefer to see my hand raised babies go to folks who want to raise and breed their own, but that isn't always an option.

When my feet grow sore and I am tired, I'll slide onto my couch and perhaps see what's on tv, as I take up a crochet hook and yarn. Today's project is a warm blanket to fend off winter's chill, but it could just as easily be dishcloths or a baby dress. When someone asks, 'Can you make...?' I'm always game to at least try.

Somewhere in the midst of all of that, there are meals to be made, a house to clean and clothes to launder. There's a special needs child to educate. Always and forever, there are friends and family in need of a listening ear and a kind, supportive word.

Of course, that's only if things go as planned, which seldom happens around here. My phone just rang and I have a friend in a bind. Today it's a fruit farmer from a neighboring province. With a 5 ton truckload of fruit he's here to sell and he's been called home on an emergency.

This is where I shine. I'd had some friends and neighbors go in with me to order some of Farmer Jon's deliciousness, but we were only slated to take a few hundred pounds. After altering our plans to get our fruit and promising to see if I could possibly move a few more cases to help him out, I hung up the phone. I couldn't stop thinking about this poor guy's situation and had that nagging feeling that I really needed to do whatever I could to help him out. I texted him and offered to buy the entire truckload of produce if he would deliver it to my shop, instead of the restaurant parking lot where we normally meet.

My 'job' is certainly far from traditional. I don't impact the world every time I sell a jar of jam, a dozen eggs or a pig. The impact comes in smaller, less noticeable things. The ability to 'flex' my work day so that I can help out a friend or a neighbor makes a big difference for those I'm helping. When I share my acts of kindness, it tends to spread, almost like a virus, inspiring others to do kind acts, restoring a little bit of faith in Higher Powers and Humanity. When I sell live animals to people who have no experience, I include a 'mentorship clause' in my contract, as well as a buy back, if they find they cannot care for them. In so doing, one person at a time, I'm teaching people proper animal husbandry. I'm always more than willing to share my knowledge on any topic under the sun. Knowledge IS after all, power.