the fate of ophelia .

“But never have I been a blue calm sea. I have always been a storm.”

Taryn chuckled before tipping her witch hat at Andie. "You think? I just love Halloween. It's my favorite holiday which I know is odd to some people because they love Christmas or Thanksgiving, but Halloween is really it for me." she smiled, looking at everything around the cafe. It looked very witchy and wizardry and that was exactly how Taryn wanted it to be. "I would take all of the commemorative stamps and display them in the cafe." she winked.

"Know," she confirmed with a grin, the soft slip of her eye in a wink. "Halloween's just... fun, y'know? No real pressure like the other two — your family won't judge you for messing up the Halloween candy bowl the same way they would if you ruined the pie on Thanksgiving."

I won't say that I work in a holiday-dependent business but I often have couples who love to get married right around those holidays for added special feelings, that I understand that feeling of going, going, going. I've got two weddings that will be the weekend before Christmas, one the Saturday after Christmas and a massive wedding the Friday after New Years... it seems like everyone wants to do these around those holidays and it just hits a point where I feel like I'm running on full speed. Well the snacks and company sounds like a wonderful thing but my research project -- as much as I love a good project board and all details tucked perfectly inside, may end up being half-assed due to you know, weddings. I do love me some good snack though.

That sweet spot between November and New Year's is the coveted winter wedding time. Like you said, the special feelings, that extra something that seems like it's in the air... it's irresistible. I get it, though, the running on full speed with no real reliability from the brakes (or, in my particular case, glitter) is amplified when your job is, in some way, impacted by the holiday season. In your case, it just makes it all the more appealing. Would you say this is your busiest time of year or do you have more couples coming to you in droves during another season? I'll waive whatever half-assery, so long as you bring a story or two that sounds like it could've aired on TLC. Snacks are guaranteed. Wine, too, if that's your thing.

Hibernating sounds amazing, actually. How’s that been going so far? I’ve found myself much more busy this year, maybe the kids are just giving me more to work with? That’s not at all me complaining, though! It’s been a pretty good fall, lots of big things happening. Honestly I used to just go with the flow of things, at least it was like that three years ago. And things just kind of came and went and we’d just roll with it. This year feels different. I did decorate for the fall and Halloween, which is something I wasn’t able to do last year! So this year I’m looking forward to the holidays.

They've been going! It's a weird change of pace, honestly? I've never owned a business or been the seasonal magic manufacturer, but it's been a fun time. Never a dull moment, which, when it comes to the workplace, I've had enough to last me an absolute lifetime. Hey, the kids meeting you somewhere in the middle just means job security. Oh? Any good big things happening that you wanna share with the class? No pressure if not. That's good, though, all the big and exciting things rolling through and sweeping you along for the ride. Oh wow, look at you moving on up in the world! Tell me how the decorating went! Subtle? Overboard? Just right? I feel like the decor is really what gets you in the mood for the season, it makes the ambiance. Not to pitch myself or anything, but when it comes mid-November and you're looking to get the ball rolling, I've got 'ya. We'll turn your home into the holiday wonderland of your dreams.

Don't you worry Andie, we will let you sleep all of January away. February, however, I will need all of the pink and red heart wall decor for the health office, ready to go. Snacks and your company, you say? What a lucky gal, I am. Now just what does participation in this research study require of me? Beside explaining that the holidays for me are filled with praying that I don't catch a bug from one of my students, or Zoey, and lots of extra charting during sick season. And my collection of cute themed scrubs, of course. I would say those are in the 'enjoy' category, the praying is 'survival'.

I am fully anticipating to be bleeding pink and red glitter hearts come February despite whatever hibernation smacks me in the face, so you don't have to worry about that. What can I say? I tried to give it some incentive. That's exactly what the study entails — now that I'm the maker of the magic, I gotta make sure I don't burn myself out on it. Can't lose the whimsy and wonder, y'know? Sick season puts such a damper on things; at least you get to ride it out in the cute themed scrubs. Scrubs should be a universal work uniform, truly. They've always looked super comfy. Kinda like professional sweatpants, in their own roundabout way. You keep any good tea or soup recipes on deck for that survival phase?

Do you really, honestly want to know how I survive the hustle and bustle of the holiday season? ... I hire a decorator and a personal shopper. But then again, I'm not much of a holiday person, so I'm not sure that I'm the best person to ask. I'll still take the snacks and company, though. Here, let's turn this around: when the holiday rush is through, and you enter hibernation mode, what do you look forward to doing the most? Besides sleeping. Binge watching TV? Catching up on... knitting? Taking up a new sport?

Well now I've got questions, Raf — do you give the decorator a specific vision? Or direction on how you want it? Or do you just give 'em creative freedom? And how does one go about finding a personal shopper during the peak of shopping season? Is there like... Tinder for your Christmas shopping? You gotta let me know. Not saying I'm going to also need to take advantage of it this season but between a new house and a store that kind of demands seasonal perfection... might need the leg up. Haven't knitted a day in my life, I'm afraid; very seriously doubt that I've got the knack for it, but I do love a craft from Pinterest every now and again. Realistically speaking, though, it'll probably be getting the house the way I want it. Painting, more painting, possibly redoing the kitchen.

Who: Sloan Benowitz & open!

"Trying," Andie agreed with a head tip of acknowledgement, wincing as her efforts to shape her clay. "That's the operative phrase. Don't know that I'd call it succeeding, though. This was supposed to be a vase." Whatever she had sitting on the wheel in front of her was far from it — if anything, it was a noble attempt at something new, but far from the handmade piece of art she'd daydreamed up to sit in the shop with a faux-flower arrangement for the holidays. The back of her hand rubbed at a spot on her forehead where some flyaway hairs had escaped their capture within a haphazard bun. "On a scale from one to ten, though, how obvious is it that the last time I attempted clay was... probably high school?"

Who: Taryn & Open (3/6)

Saying no to Sunday brunch of any kind felt akin to sacrilege for Andie, the same sentiment handed down to a themed brunch at that. Cobblestone was her daily haunt, after all, passing through each morning and afternoon before she checked in for shifts down at the Shoppe — this Halloween season had called for extra doses of caffeine — that one more day couldn't possibly hurt. It paid off, of course, between the immaculately spooky ambiance and the incredible spread.