I have had the very good fortune these past few years to seize opportunities and try out many new things that I never, ever thought I would. As a 54-year-old Director of Conferences at a university, and as a mother of three grown children, my life is good in its consistency and in its stability. It feels good to be able to think thoughts of my own and use my time the way I want to – a far cry from the hectic, mommy days when all my children were toddlers, and also teenagers, at the same times.
I started my life over after a divorce five or so years ago, and I promised myself two things going forward. I would never do anything I didn’t want to do, and I would never pass up an opportunity.
Since then, I have learned coding, data analytics, graphic design, traveled abroad solo several times, camped alone, dated a man 20 years younger, started a PhD program. I am like a different person.
But one of the biggest changes is beginning work at the university cafeteria.
After COVID hit, our cafeteria underwent a giant shift in meal delivery. I was asked to help with the new processes to make the transition easier on the team and on the students. Since we aren’t doing conferences for the time-being, and that is my job title, I felt very fortunate to be given a new role. Even if it is being the lunch lady.
In your own kitchen, or even in a restaurant on your own plate, food is delightful. It’s beautiful, fragrant, tasty and a joy to experience, especially if you enjoy cooking. But that pleasantness really doesn’t scale well. If you’ve ever worked food service before, you know food in massive quantities is gross, no matter what state it’s in. In cafeteria quantities, it stinks. All of it stinks. All the time. It’s greasy and has a day-old look, even when it’s only been an hour since it was fresh out of the oven.
I am not a foodie to begin with. I’m a satisficer. If it’s good enough, I’m happy with it. But now, as the lunch lady, I’m really not into food at all. But I’m SUPER happy to have a job. And super happy to have been offered an opportunity when I could have easily been let go. And here’s the thing. I am enjoying it.
I work with students all day, which is hella fun. Everyone wants (needs, actually) to eat, so it’s hard not to feel like I’m doing important work. The downside is the late hours and the KP duty – I don’t know anyone who loves to mop and take trash to the dumpster. But the upside is engaging with the Gen-Z crowd in a way I normally wouldn’t be able to. I love the camaraderie of the kitchen, the fast pace, the friendly faces, the feeling of satisfaction after a long day of hard work.
And I’m fortunate to work with people who really care about what they do.
So I have approached being the lunch lady with the mindset that I will never do anything I don’t want to do, and I will seize every opportunity that comes my way. I’m not at all sure how this role fits into my career path, but I’m excited to find out.
And please…. that’s Dr. Lunch Lady to you.