Soapbox....

I had been waiting for a certain phone call for about three weeks. Just when I thought I was in the clear (two days before the actually event) the phone rings. Catching me off guard, I didn't look to see who it was, I just answered it. I heard the voice and thought, "OH CRAP". "Hey, you are going to help with the Pancake Breakfast Saturday...right?". Without missing a beat I said that yes, I would be there. I figured, it's not all that bad anyway, just do it and get it over with. Every year the local Historical Society has a Pancake Breakfast that coincides with the Visit with Santa at the local Firehouse. Now I am not a member of the Historical Society but every year without fail, I am working there. Thanks goodness I am in the far back room cooking the sausage and pretty much that is it.

I plugged my truck in on Friday night so it would start easily in the morning and set my alarm for 4:30 a.m. Saturday. I rarely need an alarm, but I thought, just in case....I got up right on time and decided NOT to do chores that early, figuring I would be back home in about 4 hours anyway. I had let the inside dogs out and sat in the chair to watch TV for a minute and then let the dogs back in. They came back in and I got them fed. I got the the Firehouse around 5:45...a little late in my book, and I only live a mile from the place (too much TV I guess...)

I go directly to the back to find two guys already frying. Getting there late, I was left with the two old skillets. I plugged them both in and got them heated up in no time. Each skillet held I think it was 12 links. The three of us got 50# of sausage cooked up in what seemed no time at all. I was the runner as well. Making sure the front had the sausage to put on the plates. So when I turned my links in my skillets I would run up from to see how far ahead we were. The one guy had to leave so I took over his skillet as well. We cooked another 20# up between the two of us and then he said he had to go. He at least cleaned up his skillet. I cooked the last box of sausage up and got everything up to the front.

I am not sure how many workers they had in the front but I know it was at least 9.
Half of them were sitting at various tables talking. I told my superior that I had to leave for a bit, but that I would be back to get MY OWN breakfast since I hadn't had time to sit down. I got tied up while I was away and got back into town 12:50 pm, it was supposed to run til 1:00 pm. I stopped quickly hoping they had things cleaned up, or at least STARTED clean up. Nope, five people were sitting there eating, three workers were at the table with them talking. One was standing there with a towel in his hand. Another three people were actually working. One was flipping pancakes one was cleaning tables and the other was holding the plate for the cakes.

Since it was put on by The Historical Society, I know most of the members are older and I don't really MIND helping. I don't really want to waste half of the two free days I have to get things done during the week, but I don't complain about it. I just do it. But this year, sort of torqued me off. Seems when the 1:00 pm clock chimed, everyone left except the guy in charge and I. Now I also help this same guy farm from time to time so I would help him whenever he needed it, no big deal. BUT EVERYONE ELSE LEFT! I am not even a Historical Society Member!! I think all the members THINK I am because I am there ever year , but I am not.

As soon as I was done eating, I started on getting the two grills cleaned up. While I did that he worked on getting the laundry together and cleaning up the bowls and such in the kitchen. When I got done with grilles he got the gas lines unhooked. Tables were taken down, all cooking utensils boxed up and ready to go into storage. Everything that he needed to take home was put in the back of his truck. Everything that needed to go the Historical Society storage was right next to the door where so he could pull up and load it easily. I asked him if he needed me to help him unload the stuff at home and adamantly told "NO". I did ask him if someone was going to help him pull the one grill out on Sunday or Monday to get it into storage and he told me yes, someone was going tot help him.

Like I said, I know most of these people are older, but it still seems like SOME of them could stay if for nothing more that moral support than so be it. I have found this to be the case in most clubs I have belonged to. Every week, myself and one other person would be the one out there carrying 15 targets at a time setting them one by one. Cutting out shooting lanes and such then setting the other 15 targets on the other side. There is always Bible School, drawing and painting all the back drops, getting costumes and such put together....two of us there to do it.

I'll step down now off my little collapsible soapbox, because no matter how much I sit here and complain, it wouldn't matter anyway. I would still get called to help and I would still do it the next time, without complaining face to face with any of the members. If someone asks me to do anything, I can never say no, even though I hear "NO" 9 times out of 10 when I ask for help.