Donna

We have a den mother at my institution of higher learning. (What do you think of that wordifying?) Her name is Donna, and she may want everyone to think she is just a cafeteria manager, but I know she is waaaaaaaaaay more than that. She works with a woman named Shirley, and together she and Shirley make culinary magic that is the reason the seat of my pants is starting to feel like it has been spray painted to my buns. She makes home-cooked meals that would make any mother jealous and envious, and no matter what time of day you arrive at the school you can smell something wonderful coming from the kitchen. I usually get to the college about and hour ahead of classes, which would be between 7:30 and 7:45 and already she has warm cookies on the counter that call to you like the song a mermaid bewitched her sailors with, and I defy anyone with a nose that is in proper working order to NOT find themselves in the cafeteria buying one; or two;......ok fine or three. Donna knows everyone's name. Even all the new people who have just started. She knows your spouse, your kids, where you come from and probably what you have for a pet. She will ask about your kid's cold, your yard sale, how you made out at the local trivia competition, and so many other little things that make it feel like you have known her all your life. She will sing to you, laugh with you, she is always laughing, make you smile and generally give you the impression she has known all along you would sooner or later show up at her counter, it was just a matter of time. She also has the uncanny knack of understanding when one of her famous cookies will do a soul as much good as it will do a body. She will offer one of those treasures when she sees someone struggling with what ever demon has them in its grip, her way of making things better for, and lessening the punch of, what ever it is that has you bothered or upset. I often think that if I pass my course and move on to what ever job I acquire from the benefit of my training, I will have Donna to thank for my success as much as my instructors. They may have taught me the mechanics of the business world, but I have learned that Donna, if you watch her from day to day dealing with all manner of people from behind her counter, will teach you the human side of how the world works, and you will benefit greatly if you just pay heed to the lessons she gives. The are free to anyone who wants to pay attention to them, and very, very valuable.