51 My Alternative to Walmart Greeter

Part of my job this week was to work at "Cocktails In The Gardens".  What pray tell is CITG?  A fundraiser the Birmingham Botanical Gardens host 3 times (August, September and October).  You know ...get them there, give them a little food, liquor them up and they will give.  Works every time.  And it usually does. 

Example - a few years back my church held a "Ministry Fair", booths displaying their 'wares' giving you the opportunity to see how you fit in.  It's a terrific idea especially if you serve a little beer and wine.   OK, now you are really, really confused...church - beer/wine - can it be???   Yes of course if you are Episcopalian   ....alias another blog indeed. 

Well my point is, I had a couple of glasses of wine and by the end of the night I had signed  up to:

1. Sing in the choir
2. Volunteer with youth
3. Read scripture on Sunday morning (at least once a quarter)
4. Join a women's Sunday School class (which also met at the same time as choir - which also sang at the same time as reading)
5. And lastly - Be on the hospitality committee

What the heck....all because 2 glasses of wine.  Yep - that's the way it works.  And this is a true story!  (I ended up singing in the choir and reading.  Later I did youth and hospitality  - it works).

The Botanical Gardens knows what every non-profit fund knows......Food+Beer+Wine=Giving!

So, the main feature of this CITG is guess what..............the BAR!  Right of course, the BAR.  So where did our sales team get strategically placed - yes of course, the BAR.  Because the best way to sell a lot of drinks is to get a bunch of gabby sales people yakking it up with these poor people They will buy drinks (even non-alcoholic) just to break free of the incessant cheerful chatter.

It's 100 degrees and at least 90% humidity (yes, ti's the south I know - but we get tired of it too) and it's only 5pm.  The sun has 3 more good hours to shine it's heart out - until then I'm gonna 'sweat like a pig'..... oops I mean glow like any sweet southern Sista of the Ya-Ya's or what the hell ever!

Now I'm no dummy, I donned a hat for this thing....my mama taught me a long time ago, wear a hat and you'll be cooler (daddy knew this too).  It works, truly it does.  But I'm still one hot (glowin') mama. 

I get strategically placed between beer and wine - ahhh yes....they knew didn't they!  We're serving up a local brew by  Back Forty Beer Co. You got your Naked Pig Pale Ale  ( who doesn't like to say Naked Pig) and Truck Stop Brown Ale.  Now I can pour a good beer - it was a side hobby in college and fun to hit the tap again - I proudly fill the cup right up to the rim with the appropriate amount of head.

Then on to wine.....a nice Willamette Valley Pinot Gris and Castle Rock Pinot Noir.  We're good to go on wine as well. 

So it's blue tickets for wine and white for beer.  I've got it so....bring on the customers.  And then whoosh here they come.  And boy did them come.  Chicks in "garden party' (use your best southern accent here) dresses and 5 inch heels (what were they thinking....we're in dirt, dust, gravel) - and they look lovely 'sweatin' like pigs'  - I mean with their glowin' skin. 

Then there are the prep boys......impressing these lovely 'glowin' ladies.  Decked out in Polo shirts and Docksiders with perfect haircuts.  Then there is the occasional guy that came from work with the dress shirt and tie.  LOSE the tie....we're at a cocktail party in the 100+ degree heat.....no one and I mean NO ONE is impressed. 

And then the gays!!!  My favorite for sure because they will chat it up like no body's business and I mean 'bring it on'.  These are my people.  I truly love gay men and have since my first encoounters at theatre in college.  They are wonderful, have great taste, fun, look adorable, are polite and one of them will probably be the first in the Lily Pad pond.

Bottom line....we served $4000 in beverages (at $4 or $5 bucks a pop) in 3 hours.  'We wuz some busy southern bees.'  But oh my - what a blast.  I was non-stop busy but still had time to pour a perfect beer, a full glass of wine, take the ticket and of course 'chat 'em up'.  They were  even generous enough to give $300+ to our "Tips for Charity" for GIVE KIDS THE WORLD  our hotel charity.

But what is the point of this story?  OK, I did something new (remember the 52 - one new thing a week) and definitely found my retirement job!  Bartender.  Yep, I'm good at it, liked it a lot and it will sure as hell beat being a Walmart Greeter.

Looking forward to the next two CITG events.  September and October.  If you live in Birmingham....check it out....great event.  And maybe you'll get to hear me say................

"So what-al-it-be?  A Naked Pig or a Truck Stop Brown Ale"? 

See ya there!