A new edition to my work resume. . .

You may want to consider hiring me as the bartender for your next big party.  I have the creds, my prices are very reasonable, and I am pretty sure I can give you references.

How did I come upon this new addition to my work resume, you ask?  By accident, that's for sure, but I am proud to say that I rose to the occasion, all 4' 10 3/4" of me.  Here's the back story.

I recently became a docent at the Kampong, the renowned horticulturist Dr. David Fairchild's former home here in Coconut Grove.  Last Thursday the Kampong hosted a Twilight Tour celebrating the opening of the Mango Season and I was slated to stand guard and be charming in the Museum on the property. This was a job that did not qualify as high energy work.  Except I arrived early and Ann Schmidt, the woman in charge of the event, pressed me into service in the kitchen.  Need I mention that is not my natural millieu????

In a few hurried sentences she explained that she needed me to start creating the Mango Rum Punch that was the signature drink for the occasion.  The recipe was pretty simple:  1/3 pineapple juice, 1/3 white rum, a healthy dose of fresh lime joice and an ice cube tray of frozen mango cubes, picked earlier from the trees in the Kampong's garden..

I may not cook but I do like to drink, so I got the hang of the recipe and filled up several pitchers   pretty quickly.  Then Ann asked me if I could trot outside with the first pitcherful and set up the outdoor bar because the guests were starting to arrive.  Arrive they did, thirsty and ready to drink.  And guess who they found all alone behind the bar, at the moment, and for the next two frantic hours.  Simply moi.

"White wine, red wine or Mango Rum Punch," I inquired sweetly to the guests at the front of the fast lengthening line.  Business was booming and the Rum Punch was obviously a major hit, with one of the other volunteers running back and forth to the kitchen to refill pitchers while I stirred and poured and stirred and poured and stirred and poured  some more..  I don't mind telling you, I was very professional, smiling brightly, and wondering desperately when they would stop coming back for seconds so I could take a bathroom break..

I have new respect for bartenders these days.    I can tell you it's exhausting work.  As a matter of fact,  I think I'll drink to that.
 Skol!  Prosit! L'chaim!