Jumping on the bandwagon

So... its November, month of gratitude.  Between facebook, instagram and blogs, I've been bombarded with ways to express my gratitude.  I never really like to just jump on the bandwagon with the latest and greatest way to get more attention on those sites, but I kinda like the idea of doing some pictures throughout the month of things I'm grateful for.  It more than likely won't be a daily thing, as I'll forget and get busy and simply won't have the time.  But I'll add what I can and remember to be mindful of the blessings in my life.  Here's today's:

That guy in the white shirt is my old boss, Marsh.  I went to work for him when I was 17. I actually wanted to work at the grocery part of the store, but they didn't have any openings, so they referred me to him.  Marsh ran the deli and meat department, with catering on the side.  I just didn't want to work on Sunday, so I took the job even though it wasn't what I wanted.  Today I am grateful that I did. I'm grateful for Marsh and Tory, Carrie and Dixie, Jack and Jud and sometimes, even Karl.  I'm grateful for Lisa and Matt and Marie.  These are all originals of "the deli."  I ended up working for Marsh until I got my teaching job almost 8 years later.  I worked mornings, nights, middle of the nights- shifts of all sorts.  I met famous people while we catered movies.  I traveled to places no one should ever try to drive a 55 foot kitchen truck.  I have so many recipes in my head that sometimes I'm amazed it can hold them all.  I learned all about food and meats and catering and life.  Marsh is more like a dad than a boss.  I blame him for my back aches, my foot problems, my college degree, my inability to go to a party and not critique the way the food is set up, my need to question the type of potato salad an establishment sells: "Gourmet or regular?"  I say "blame" but mostly I mean "grateful." There are some days I just want to crawl back into bed with the deli and work Christmas hours while that stupid "Feliz Navidad" plays every 2 hours in the background. 

I am especially grateful for the skills I learned while working for Marsh.  I can whip a family party into shape in no time.  I can call him as my "connection" and have him cater for me for conferences, ward parties and just because I'm too lazy to do it myself.  As I mentioned, I was called as RS president this past week.  We've already had a death in the ward so I've been on funeral planning duty for the week.  I'm so grateful for my catering skills that have helped me get the food in order.  Atleast that part hasn't stressed me out.

Yes, I'm grateful for the deli.  Its grown into much more than when I first started.  But I'm grateful that I can still call Marsh and "go home" for a minute and rub his feet and talk about life and have a brownie and some potatoes.  :)