Cake

Sometimes things get put into perspective for us. 

About a year ago I had a similar situation to the post left by Tatiana.  We had a little boys Star Wars birthday cake to deliver.  About 35 kids and their parents were attending and this Mom always does her kids parties up big.  We were buried in cakes that day and by the time I arrived, the guests were getting ready to leave, the Mom was terribly upset and the little boy was in tears.  I was devastated.  These were regular clients as well and I thought, how terrible to let a family and a child down on what should have been such a perfect day.  I wrote her a letter expressing my sadness over the situation and promised a cake for whatever future event they might have.  I knew it would not repair the damage and really didn't expect to hear back but I hoped that, at the very least, they would know that my remorse was genuine. 

I didn't hear anything back until a few months later when I received a note from the Mom saying that they had been planning to use their "cake IOU" to celebrate the upcoming birth of their daughter.  Sadly, she lost the baby in a late term miscarriage.  To quote, "In light of our recent loss, not having a birthday cake at a party on time seems insignificant."

While this by no means justifies unreliability or tardiness it really does make you think.  It's a cake.  It's not a disease or a brain tumor, or a car crash or a life.  I like to think that my reason for existence on this "mortal coil" has some sort of meaning and contributing pleasure to events through cake is extremely gratifying.  Usually.  But, in the end, it's still just cake.  And life goes on.