Either you live on the east part of 116th Street, or you come to Commission meetings. Either way, you know Rosemary Wais. She's the irreverent redhead who loves to work in her yard, and crack wise. She used to be in the airline stewardess business, which may be where she got her tendency toward style and assertiveness. I'm sure it's where she learned to deal with what comes her way.
Rosemary has a special place at Commission meetings. In fact, she has two special places. She sits in the back of the room and provides the cleverest heckling. She used to be the second most avid heckler, until the most avid heckler got "kicked upstairs" and is now on the Commission him-/myself. The title, and the throne, are now Rosemary's.
Rosemary's other Commission meeting claim-to-fame is in the lobby. Rosemary provides coffee and home-made pastries for every meeting. The coffee is as good as coffee should be, and Rosemary even makes decaf, for wimps like me. The pastries are spectacular. Rosemary usually makes some sort of cinnamon crumb cake, but she has been known to compete with herself by making a fruit-filled version as well. As best I can tell, as someone who helps the process, the cakes get completely consumed over the course of each meeting.
From time to time, I slip Rosemary a $5 bill. The fact is, she pays for all of this-- the coffee and the ingredients for the pastries she makes-- herself. I keep telling her she should put out a receptacle into which her dependents could leave a 25 or 50 cent, or a dollar, gesture of appreciation, but Rosemary keeps not doing it. Maybe one of these days.
In the meantime, thank you, Rosemary.
You're welcome, and the part about upholding the title of back seat heckler, now that I've been promoted from #2 to #1. :).. Also the goodies will continue as usual with maybe something different added to the table.
ReplyDeleteAnd any monetary donations will be graciously accepted.
Rosemary
I wil try and keep the heckling to a minimum., :)
ReplyDeleteHaving been "in town" for your last Commission Meeting, I was fortunate to have experienced Rosemary's hospitality. It is not often that I have met a person like Rosemary who so freely gives of her time and culinary talent. Not only does she bake, carry in the food and all necessary serving items, set up and oversee the food table, clean up, carry out all that she has brought in including the laundry which she, of course, does, but she does this and asks nothing in return. She is a treasure and you are all lucky to have her as a neighbor.
ReplyDeleteMimi D'Angelo
Wellesley, MA