Dear Bakery Family,

This summer has been a major whirlwind and one that I did not expect. It has especially been one that I will not easily forget. I left you last summer with you all thinking I wouldn’t be coming back. I knew if I didn’t come back I would miss you all so much, but I thought there was nothing back here for me. As you all knew, I didn’t want to be here this summer at all. At the beginning, I wanted nothing but to be back at school. But in early May, so many of the memories that have been made in in the bakery over the years came flooding back as soon as I walked through the big wooden door.

The first thing I remember from my first day is walking in and being intimidated by every single person working there. Even though they were all sweet, older women, even the one I now consider a second mother, they seemed all business and talked about things that didn’t really matter to me. But as the long work days wore on and I spent more time with these lovely ladies, they made me feel like I was at home and that I could trust them. We laughed together, complained together and built really great friendships. It became my favorite place in the park to work very quickly.

Throughout the three years I have been working in the bakery, some of you have been there since the start, others of you have just recently come into our little family but I have this love for all of you that I could never forget. As soon as you met me, most of you probably were either intimidated by me or realized how weird I was and hopefully felt slightly comforted. Working in such close quarters on hot, busy summer days made us so close. Whether we’re singing and dancing to stupid songs together, talking in a British accent or picking on our coworkers, we have always had a good time. We have played pranks on each other, laughed at other’s misfortunes and scared the living daylights out of the trash boys or in my case, Nancy. I can’t even pull to mind all of the fond memories I have from working with you guys because there are way too many of them. Some of those were amazing, and others were learning experiences.

I know I had my moments this summer where you wanted to kill me. There were definitely times when I was being sassy, angry, irritable or snappy at you. There were also times when I had more energy than a thousand small children who were given loads of sugar. I’ve burned too many cookies to count. I’ve made major messes (the molasses). I’ve yelled at you for no reason. I’ve made you want to throw me and my questionable singing voice and dance moves out the door. I’ve made you wonder if there truly was something wrong with me. For putting up with me in all of my forms, I cannot thank you more. There aren’t many people who would put up with all of this day after day, but you all have. For that, thank you so much. You all have made me feel so loved, welcome and wanted. I honestly couldn’t ask to work with a better crew.

To my Sunday and Monday crew, you are literally the best. I can’t say I had more fun working with any other crew. I also can’t say I was under any more stress with any other crew. We messed up, and we fixed it together. We had each other’s backs. You understood the stress I was under and tried your best to handle situations on your own in the best way possible. You did things without me asking to. I am so proud of all of you for the work you put in this summer. You are like my little siblings and I want you all to know that in the future, whether I am back next summer or not, that I will always be here for you and you can come to me with anything. I hope there are more “Famery” work days left, but if there aren’t, it was absolutely amazing while it lasted and I will miss you so much.

To the rest of the crew, working with you was nothing like I expected it would be. I had to break a few of you out of your shells and though I wish some of you would have come out of them sooner, it’s amazing the type of people I found hidden. The seemingly reserved people are actually comedians and some of the kindest people I have ever met. I have had more fun than I ever expected to with you. You have taught me that I shouldn’t judge the type of person you are before I know the real you because you are constantly proving me wrong. We have gone through some seriously rough times and dealt with constant frustrations, but we are always able to take each other’s minds off the bad things in our days. I know you all have my back and would help me with anything I needed, and you always have.

My last day this summer is tomorrow, and it is so bittersweet. I am finally going back to where I truly want and need to be. The bitter part is leaving the family I have in all of you. Going to work every day got me excited. I wake up in the morning with energy and happiness only because I look forward to a day of fun and hard work with you. Some days this summer I have come into work on my days off to squeeze in some more hours and laughs with you guys. Now that there are only a limited number of hours and laughs we can have for a while, I just wanted to say thank you again and let you know how much you mean to me. I will miss you so much while I am gone, but this is not goodbye.

See you soon,

Alyssa,

Shalyssa,

No-Shame Shalyssa,

Hair Net Queen