Showing posts with label Gift Shop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gift Shop. Show all posts

Monday, January 30, 2017

The lady who cooks for us....

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

This is CMPD's beautiful police headquarters located in downtown Charlotte. I took this photo last Winter after a cream puff drop.

Those who work here might take its beauty for granted, but not me....I love everything about it. Its majestic exterior architecture, built specifically for CMPD in 1996, and how they have kept the right amount of old and mixed it with the new when they have updated and remodeled the interior over the years. But most of all, I love the people inside.

Last Saturday night I volunteered in the gift shop. I didn't set up a treat table so I parked in the visitor lot for the first time instead of the parking deck, and I was so glad I did.

Since I went in the front door, I had to take the elevator down to the lower level to get to the gift shop. When the elevator doors opened, there stood one of my South Division officers who was with his beautiful wife and his visiting in-laws. It was kind of surreal because it was about 10:15 pm, so I didn't expect to see him there. They had just come from the basketball game downtown and I guess he was showing his family around.

The officer seemed just as surprised to see me as I was so see him. We hugged and then he introduced me to his family...."This is the lady I was telling you about who cooks for us", he said. It made me smile big that my name had come up in a conversation with his family.

This officer has sat at my table many, many times over the past seven years, and has probably eaten everything I know how to cook. I haven't seen him in a while, so I asked if he was still with the South Division, and he said he was.

The next time I plan a meal, I will ask the sergeant for this officer's schedule to make sure I cook on a day or night that he is working. That doesn't necessarily mean he'll be able to come because they're so busy, but at least he'll know the AHOP light is on and I'll save a place for him at the table.

 

                                                                                   ♥   

Sunday, March 29, 2015

#ourfavoritecreampufflady

Last Saturday night was my first night at the gift shop in about four weeks. It wasn't a planned break. Just too much going on at work. Depending on how my work week goes, sometimes I just can't muster up the energy to make cream puffs...and I can't go empty-handed now! My body was telling me to rest, so I did.

The cream puffs disappeared as fast as I
was putting them on the plate.  

Judging by the steady stream of Po-Po's and 911 communication staff who stopped by to visit and say hello, I think they missed me as much as I missed them. I arrived a little earlier than usual hoping to catch a few 2nd shifters and I did!

A few officers stopped by who I hadn't seen in a while. I loved the grin on their faces as they rounded the corner of the gift shop (holding a cream puff). It was almost as if they were trying to surprise me. Well, they did! I was so happy to see everyone.

At the end of the evening, there were about eight (8) powder sugar puffs left (all the chocolate ones were gone), so I boxed them up and took them upstairs to the communications team. Miss Mary was working, the supervisor responsible for me volunteering in the gift shop. I wouldn't have known about it if not for her.

She hugged me when she saw me and said she wanted to take a 'selfie' with me. She posted our picture on Facebook, and paid me the ultimate compliment. She gave me my own hashtag. I have my own hashtag...how cool is that!

#ourfavoritecreampufflady


And check this out...FINALLY, a picture with an officer!! I have only waited 5 years for a photo op. I keep telling these guys..."I need pictures! My friends think I'm making you up!" I don't go on about it out of respect for their privacy, but it makes me sad I don't have any pictures with my friends. It was very sweet of this officer to agree.  


Maybe absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Whether it was me they missed or my cream puffs (maybe a little of both), it was a fun night! As long as my puffs are enjoyed by the officers all across the Queen City, I will happily and forever be....#ourfavoritecreampufflady.  

♥