While working as a mailman, sorry, mailwomen just does not sound right, my mother and the chef from our local hospital became partners in crime and purchased a caf�. My mother at the time was the catering supervisor for the hospital. They had become known far and wide for their talents and the hospital began to market them out after hours for private affairs. After doing this for some time, they made the decision that if they were going to work fifteen hours a day; it was going to be for themselves and not the hospital. Enter the caf�.

I had previously helped Mom on catered events while she was still with the hospital. I couldn't, and still can't, boil water, so my interest was focused on the coordination and overall appearance of the events. After helping here and there for several months I knew I was ready to make the major decision to quit my secure, well paid, post office job, and become an entrepreneur. I can still see many shaking their heads in disbelief!

Our caf� held it's own nicely while the catering side of our business increased daily. After three years we made the decision to expand our building to include a banquet room. I dove headfirst into the new addition. While my family worked away in the kitchen, I became the marketing queen. My sole purpose in life was to promote, organize, and oversee every function held in the banquet room as well as the off premise events. A coordinator was born.

It soon became apparent that while our caf� was job security, it was limiting us when it came to the number of events we could book. After many family discussions, we closed our little caf�. It was the first time in nine years that we were able to have Sunday's off.

I need to back up here a bit. Shortly after our banquet room opened up my father retired. Mom became jealous of his "free time" and she was soon to follow into retirement. That left us three "kids" to run the place. And I don't use the term kids lightly. My sister was nineteen, my brother was twenty and I was a ripe old twenty-seven. But we survived and grew by leaps and bounds.

Around this time I was approached by a property owner whom was interested in opening up their "backyard" to the public. Such a backyard. They live on thirteen lushly landscaped acres with a man made lake and three bubbling brooks. Additionally, one acre is used for parking and two more remain undeveloped. I knew it would be a hit without even thinking twice. Our agreement was that we would lease the property from them for a per event price. The rest was up to me. Once again I put on my marketing hat. Within six months I had every weekend of the upcoming year booked.

This is where my coordination skills were really put to the test. Weddings are in a classification all their own because of the emotion that is involved. Add to that the uncontrollable outdoor environment and you have your hands full. I've carried off events in the rain, the wind, the horrible heat (115), without water when the well went dray, without power when seven of the western states went black, with hysterical brides, with intoxicated grooms, with demanding vendors, with unreasonable parents, with gun toting secret service men, with fighting cowboys, and unwanted, uninvited guests. And through it all, I have had the blessed ability to remain calm and take control. I have had the pleasure of working with brides that have had dream budgets, and those whose budgets truly gave me a challenge. I even had a bride that modeled her entire celebration after that of Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson. And then there was the bride that gave me a financial figure and said she and her groom would show up but wanted nothing else to do with the planning!

And while this was going on I was volunteering to be on community committees for annual fund-raisers and banquets. I have had the fun of entertaining two and the overwhelming feeling that a crowd of 10,000 brings.

I made the decision to move into retirement (ha! At 36?) at the end of 1997. I enjoyed a month long vacation in Scotland, Ireland, London and Wales with my Mother and came home ready for a new lifestyle. It took me exactly two months to realize that weddings are in my blood and I missed them terribly. However, I did not miss the physical involvement. Enter my computer and the World Wide Web.

I have been married to my Mr. Right for twelve years now. We live in the land of movie stars, bag ladies and sunshine - California. No children, but one dog that likes to think he is. I am a New Orleans Saints, San Diego Padres, and major NASCAR Winston Cup fan (Dale Earnhardt, Mark Martin, and John Andretti are my favorites.) In the summer months you can find us being lazy on our houseboat, and in the winter months I hide out with my best girlfriend at her mountain cabin on the weekends. I live life to it�s fullest and take advantage of every moment.

Well, that gives you a small glimpse into the crazy life I have. Hope to see you often on the boards and please do feel free to shoot a question my way every now and then.

Until then,
Happiness always,

Wendy

If you want to talk to Wenders * here * is where to find her.