gimme dem cupcakes

I really wanted to pull together something beautiful and reflective summarizing 2009 and ringing in 2010 with a big messy kiss.   There was some of the kiss the night of, but for you, my cupcake lovers, the words couldn’t come until Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. 

My cupcakes are all about connecting.  I’m a hub, you’re a hub, and between us are the myriad of beautious faces and families creating all the nooks and crannies of the wonderful lives we share.  

This week, I observed the tragedy and beauty of Haiti, resenting and treasuring my place in the world, far from terror and so able to give.  My 18 year old sister asked me, “Why should we care?” with absolute clarity and venom.  I briefly described to her the the Carribean slave trade and the revolving corruption that affects so manny developing nations.  Haiti is not an extradordinary disaster compared to the history it’s suffered nor the history of other developing countries stymied by the clash of western and indigenous, other and self; a struggle that we all come to know in our dealings witht he world and people around us.  Then she cared.  And I hope she cares tomorrow, too.  I hope that the immediate shock of the earthquake, paired with the grace of Haiti’s own people pulling it’s communities together let’s a new sense of nation and pride shake the rubble and shackles of the past.  And I hope we and the world around them pay attention for as long as it takes, because everything takes time.

So, I know at this point giving to charity may seem like pouring salt over a clusterf*&! of bacteria in Haiti’s festering wounds, but tonight I dedicated my tip wages to  Partners In Health.  I know, I waited a week, but it’s a small island and it seems PIH is having success actually accessing thse who need their aid and supplies.  That said, I am also very proud of the  Fairfax County Search and Rescue who are volunteering in Haiti now.  I hope the skills and compassion you share help Haitians for many generations.   I also hope the media and monetary attention placed on Haiti’s disaster relief translates to eduactional programs and resource sharing that helps Haitians help themselves.

So I’m trying to help myself as well, this year and in those to come, so that I can share my health and happiness with my own hub, MLK  day or not.  So, being in the cupcake biz, I’m into the  gooey crumbly manifestations of joy that people share and make friends with.  A very intimate human experience that says a little “I love you” in every bite.  I want to share love with everyone in the world… at least a little bit.  So how can one sustain copious cupcake production?  What managable but still challenging goals can I set for myself?

Last year was an explosion of creativity and disovery, and I hope to bring a little order and sense to it in the new year.  This year’s resolution is a simple  effort to improve the quality of my life: sleep at least 8 hours a day at least once a  week.  I think it’ll be an important ingredient to managing my interests and responsibilities.  I’m also opening a bank account exclusively for GimmeDemCupcakes to keep things tidy.  While I try to keep things, I always try to give, so I’ve decided to start a new part of this webpage called Cupcakes Serve, where I’ll post community events and charitable giving that interests me in the moment (hopefully a nutrition workshop at JLCC featuring GimmeDem…).  Then, I’m also trying to really launch this year starting with an Etsy account to manage orders online and then hopefully gaining a following of new friends through farmers markets or some other more public avenue.   And then there are the experimetnts… Lots to see and love.  I hope you’l chime in.  I’d love to hear from you.

I wish you a happy blessed New Year, loved ones.