dennis: ALL IN A DAY'S WORK, PT. 2 – PERSONAL SERVICE AT DAYBREAK: IT'S ALL ABOUT HER

Nancy is up early every day and me with Her. She is an executive at Her company and typically has early morning meetings with staff, meaning She's at Her desk at 7:30. Add to this her nearly hour-long commute into the city and, well... My commute is all of ten minutes to make the four-mile trip to my work in a suburban business park. This is ideal since it allows me to balance a career with housekeeping and serving two wonderfully demanding Women.

Nancy's schedule and commute make me want to do as much for Her as i can. We're both fueled by coffee so the automatic coffee maker that Sue bought me for Christmas last year is a big help; it has good hot coffee waiting when i get to the kitchen. While Nancy showers and dresses, i take Her coffee and then prepare breakfast for both of us. While we're both tired we have some of our best conversations early in the morning, going over our plans for the day, providing each other advice, and sharing the paper.

There's a lot to do though:

§  Apron and slippers on, no exceptions – looking the part is a big part of personal service. Nancy rarely selects an apron, but i know to select one She'll like, one that shouts, “i'm here to serve You!” I have a lot of aprons to chose from.

§  Make and serve coffee, including filling Nancy's travel mug for Her commute. Good coffee gets a compliment and a smile; bad coffee gets brewed over and a scowl.

§  Pull together business attire – The evening before i will

have laid out business attire for Nancy, making sure that the items are clean, pressed, and in good order – no lose buttons of hanging hems. i 'll also add a scarf and select a blouse. It's rare that Nancy doesn't approve of what i've chosen, although She typically accessorizes my selections a bit. i think this is Her way of saying, “You're not perfect so i have to make some additions.” And She's right! Being able to confidently pick and pack is one of the big benefits i've gained from working at the women's boutique. Real-life skills gained while serving Women! (As i've noted in an earlier post, i'm sought after as an expert in Women's clothing by guys in the office who need a gift for a Wife or Girlfriend... When i'm doing the shopping, She gets the best.)

§  Manage Her tote bag – The evening before i'll make sure Her phone and tablet are charged and Her computer bag and tote are packed. Nancy typically drives in a low heel but changes to a “power” heel when She gets to the office, especially if She's having a meeting – the power of the pump is real! Her power pumps, a wrap, spare pantyhose, computer accessories, a makeup bag, some fruit for lunch, are all in the tote which i carefully manage for Her. i've learned what She needs and wants and make sure She has all these items. If She's anticipating an after-work business dinner, i'll make sure She has dress pantyhose – ultra sheer, black, seams – and definitely a dressier pair of shoes, a matching necklace and earrings – something dangling? – and maybe a little black dress.

§  If She's going out of town on business i will have packed Her bag with what She needs. Business attire, one or two of Her many little black dresses if She's planning on business dinners. Pumps for day and strappy sandals for evening. If She's headed where it's warm, i'll include a bikini, wrap, and espadrilles so She can enjoy the pool.

§  Serve Her coffee as She dresses; i hover near but a respectable distance away as She dresses in case She needs help with a zipper or an errant necklace; i'm Her chambermaid to use – a throwback to the Edwardian era, a wonderful time of personal service. It's a time for Her to dress, but for us to talk, too.

§  Once She's dressed and made up, i'll walk Her downstairs, carrying Her jacket and shoes and then seat Her at the breakfast table.

§  Make and serve breakfast. We talk a lot at breakfast, but despite our conversation, i never lose sight of my role, that of service. She generally has a light breakfast and, of course, i serve Her before I join Her, as i always do. Today i made Her a small omelet to order as She read the paper. We discussed some of the front-page stories as well as some of the business articles.

§  Breakfast over, Nancy gets up and sits on a chair in the family room – that says it's time for Her to go but not before we complete a little ritual that i long ago suggested and that She has embraced and loves. Seated on a chair in the family room Nancy awaits my coming to kneel before Her to gently cradle Her foot and put on Her shoes, buckling each if needed. i rise, She stands and accepts the kiss i always place on Her hand. She's not supposed to say “Thank you,” but She always does – i love Her so much!

§  i escort Her to Her car, making sure everything She needs

is in the car and, after an affectionate kiss, She's off. Off as She says, “To raise hell in the business world as only a Woman can.” And raise hell Nancy does; i like to imagine the intimidating sound of two pairs of high heels in the marble floored hallway as Nancy and Her Assistant go to the day’s first meeting!

i'm off, too, but to the kitchen – lots to do before i leave for work; homemaking comes first and i have a very demanding task list yet to accomplish, so...

§  It's off to the kitchen to clean up after breakfast and put together a light breakfast for the still-sleeping (thankfully! She can be very demanding!) Sue. Cereal and fruit plate with juice and a pot of coffee do the trick, and an eye opener will help – usually a mixed drink of my choosing. It's all placed on a silver serving tray with linen napkins and delivered to the sitting room outside Her boudoir. I work quietly to avoid disturbing Sue, then leave Her a note asking Her to call me if She needs anything or if She'll be expecting company; if She is, my duties will change so i want to be aware so I can meet Her expectations.

§  i return to our bedroom with my try to collect Nancy's coffee cup and a glass; everything on a tray, remember? Even one coffee comes and goes on a tray, and it does so even if i'm working alone without supervision.

§  i tend to Nancy's nightgown, depositing it in the laundry. i'll look it over for any necessary repairs after it’s washed and before it's returned to Her closet.

§  Next, dress the bed. A seemingly simple task, but getting it just right is another matter. Thankfully, all that time working in housekeeping at the hotel has made me an expert bed maker!

§  And, of course, i tend to the bathroom, making sure it's clean.

§  Light cleaning with the feather duster flying around the

bedroom. A little cleaning here and there makes thorough cleaning days all that much easier.

§  i check the living room to make sure everything is in order. Clean ashtrays, filled candy dishes, organized liquor cabinet, TV remotes within easy reach, clean floors. If the floor needed vacuuming, i'll opt for a whisk broom at this early hour but will likely return over lunch to use the vacuum cleaner and do a proper cleaning.

This done, i'm now free to leave for work. Apron comes off and is placed on the peg in the kitchen; Sue will likely pick a new one, sending this one off on the laundry and ironing cycle. Sue often has me in three to four aprons a day; but i love to iron and the satin aprons with their elaborate lace decoration are both a challenge and a pleasure. Another reason that ironing is a pleasure is because they conjure images of Joan standing over me while i ironed elaborate aprons, blouses, and skirts, ever ready to apply corrective measures to ensure perfection. Ah, such fond memories!

My day has just begun. There is much more personal service to be rendered, at work, during lunch, and this evening. It seems like a lot, but it is deeply satisfying – serving Women that is...

--d