I woke up early once more on Saturday July 12th, repeating the previous Saturdays to-do list from class party, and then some:

-Roll out the Grills
-Get meat from the cafo
-Set out condiments
-Make sure ordering systems are a go
-Do we have all the meat out and thawed?
-Make sure all students are reporting for shifts
-Are the merchandise sellers out and prepared?
-Are the cash boxes counted?
-Is the ice-cream soft?

Junior/Senior store runs a short order kitchen a few times a term for visiting communities (usually on sports tournament days, this time for alumni weekend and parents on campus for graduation). It cultivates an almost festive feel to the air as it provides multiple meal options and brings life to our sometimes quiet campus. We planned to service about 300 guests from the grill, dessert upstairs in the form of an ice-cream sundae bar, pushing a couple thousand dollars in sales over the course of a few hours.

In a “Full Store” we might service closer to 700 guests and have more options. There would be an area called “Specialty” that might offer Taco Salads, Mocktails, or an Asian cuisine. We’d run the pizza oven for those wanting pizza, and make hundreds of home-made doughnuts to sell for breakfast. Each area has different adults over it, each staying in their own silo so that no one person is too overwhelmed by their tasks. With almost 17 student managers, each adult on our 7-9 person team manages 2-3 student managers. My 2-3 managers happen to be grill, store area, and ice-cream. The only three areas we were running this day. I was so thankful for my team of adults that showed up to help fill shifts from missing students who had left on departure day the day prior.

Every single item we had for sale at the grill sold- great! Except there were about 50 customers we had to turn away. Bummer.

While they were cleaning the grill and store area, I snuck away to eat the krainer (think braat) I’d set aside for myself before running upstairs to check on my ice-cream girls. Their line was still out the door. They said they didn’t need help, but it was clear they did. I jumped on a scooper, prepping cups with vanilla and chocolate ice-cream so they could just grab, top with M&M’s, nuts, oreos or syrup, and serve them to the awaiting customers. Every time we thought the line was shrinking, a new wave of customers joined. We cranked through them, selling cups one dollar at time, each scoop adding to our students senior trip fund. The purpose of junior/senior store is two-fold: provide students a part-time job and real-life work experience while saving money for their senior trip to the Indian ocean at the end of their senior year.

Over an hour later, my girls were exhausted and we called it: we’re closing the line. This mostly worked and the line dwindled to an end. The students wrapped up the last couple dishes and cleaned counters while I counted cash boxes. They came to the table I was at when they were done- “So, um, we didn’t get lunch and cafo is closed. What should we do?”

The plight of the boarding students, they’d sacrificed their time to man the counter, and now truly had no food options having cleaned out their own stash in the last few days of term that had already passed. “I’ll make you some pizza. Come on.”

They each carried a cash box as we trudged the couple hundred yards to my house. I pulled out the frozen crusts I keep in my freezer, single serving sized, and the jar or pizza sauce. I broke into my stash of pepperoni from America and put four pepperoni pizzas into the oven for these sweet girls of mine.

They left I stared at the wall for about twenty minutes, all the time I had to rest before the next thing popped up.

A puppy was dropped at my doorstep, a puppy I’d agreed to watch for a month over three months prior. I wondered what I had agreed to, and yet, there he was. A baby German Shepherd looking at me with wide eyes and following around my own pup Ginger like a littler darker shadow. I chatted with his owner, writing down the commands in German (Austrian herself) for things like lay down, stay, heel, and go potty.

Let me be clear: on this day, it was too much, but this little gift from heaven is the most well behaved puppy I’ve ever encountered! He comes when called, pee’s on command and lets himself into this crate for afternoon naps. I had a long line in the front yard to keep him contained in the yard, but find he doesn’t need it. This sweet snuggler knows to stay with his big sister Ginger and is always SO excited to see me. While his initial landing was rough, it has been a complete joy to have this little light fill my days.

Less than an hour later after my new addition made an appearance at my door, more alumni showed up at my stoop and began telling me of their lives in Canada, Lithuania, and South Korea, each detailing the ups and downs of being their own independent adults pursuing early child-hood education, medicine, and oh golly, couldn’t even tell you! I was so glad I had decided not to attend the Alumni Banquet that evening, collapsing once more, this time knowing I could hibernate for a full 24 hours.

Sunday July 13th, I read a book, took a walk, and took a nap. I began the journey of recovery, but barely, a few things still on my to-do list for one last long day: Monday.

Come back tomorrow for the final installment in The Long End…