Another Dream Job in my Lifetime?

It wasn’t until I was midway through my college career that I realized the ability to write was not a talent that everyone possessed. I always assumed that a small group of people was much better at math than everyone else, but that all people could put thoughts to paper in an understandable and cogent manner, correct spelling and punctuation complete.

Imagine my surprise when I took a summer job at a Fortune 500 company as a secretary, and I was asked to type and distribute letters for busy executives which were given to me on legal pads in longhand: Who taught some of these people to spell? Had they ever heard of subject-verb agreement? Did they want all of their paragraphs to have a point?

At first I was unsure as to whether I should correct the errors I saw without first asking for permission (other than the obvious misspelled words). Putting myself in the other person’s place, I figured they would want to put their name on their best work, so in a very short period of time it became second nature to me to edit all the written pieces I was given.

I was simultaneously thrilled and dumbfounded: This discovery gave me the feeling that no matter what type of work I pursued, regardless of the field, my skills as a writer and an editor would be useful and valued.

Over the years on my varied career path, my skills as a writer and editor have served me well, and in many ways I felt blessed that I have always been able to bring my thoughts to paper and share stories with others, whether for a client or for myself. I truly thought in many ways I always had a dream job.

That is, until yesterday, when my entire career world was rocked when I met my first chocolatier. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, a beautiful woman named Vicki whose job with Dove Chocolate Discoveries is to share her love of chocolate with those who attend a Chocolate Tasting Party, offer wonderful samples to attendees, take their orders of the products they love, and call it a night.

I was welcomed to the party with a firm, friendly handshake from Vicki, a hug from the party hostess, and a chocolate martini. It was the beginning of a wonderful evening.

I learned that last year Americans spent $16 billion on chocolate as I perused the product catalog, moving from one decadent page of collections to another, from chocolate covered cookies to nuts to marshmallows, dipping sauces and other various products to create your own chocolate mousse, brownies, smoothies and sippies.

The tasting portion of the party was the highlight of the evening, as the once chatty party guests fell completely silent as we sampled a wide variety of customer favorites from past parties, enjoying our brief minute of heaven on earth as we savored each tasty bite.

At the close of the night, I opted to host a party for my family and friends in September as I have never had such a great time at a home entertainment party. And as the chocolate passion gene runs strong on both sides of my family, I have a feeling I will have a large group of crazy women tearing around my house, buzzed from chocolate martinis and diabetic sugar highs from fudge brownies.

And in the strangest turn of events, I also asked our evening chocolatier for more information about becoming a member of the Dove Chocolate Discoveries family. Just like I was struck so many years ago that my writing and editing skills would prove to serve me well, I felt the same way throughout the entire evening that my passion for chocolate would professionally bode well for me, too.

Just imagine that I may in fact be a person who finds not only one, but two jobs they love so well that they feel like they’re not working at all – writing for others and sharing my love of chocolate.

Oh, that would be the sweetest of dreams come true …