The Great and Terrible Fruitcake Project

[browngirl]

So, the wind is cool in the mornings, the sky clear and blue in a way only seen in the fall. As they have for several years, my thoughts turned to fruitcake.

But this year, I felt a certain... terror. I don't know if I have it in me this year to do the project like I have in previous years, especially around J. and E, but mostly just based on what my available energy currently seems to be. I know every year I talk about scaling it back, but this year I really must or risk promising more than I can accomplish, which would be utterly unacceptable. I could just take the year off, but I do love this project, and I'm afraid a hiatus will turn permanent. So.

For those who haven't seen me descend into fruitcake-related insanity before: I usually offer 4-5 different recipes/flavors of fruitcake (last year's are described here with recipes here), and a box of samples with 6 or 8 assorted bite-size cakelings. A gallery of cakes may be seen here.

[Poll #1457318]

Comments

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

My REAL answer is "do whatever is best for you." You do not owe anybody fruitcakes. Your fruitcakes are WONDERFUL, and everybody loves them -- but you should only do the fruitcake project if the pleasure YOU get from it exceeds the stress.

Not the pleasure that anybody ELSE gets from it.

This is something that often gets lost among our friends, not just you but our social group in general. We're a volunteer-y crowd, we are. We volunteer for sci-fi cons, theater groups, the SCA, our synogogues, churches, and covens, political causes, social causes.

It can be hard to remember that these are volunteer. Okay, some of these things may be so important that we must do them even if we're not enjoying them -- Jim MacDonald is a volunteer EMT in his town, and I can see that he really might go and continue to volunteer even if he really doesn't want to.

But, as much as I love your fruitcakes, they're a different category. They're more on the level of community theater. They bring beauty into the world, they are a LOT of work, and people appriciate them -- but nobody feels bad if someone says, "No, I've got too many other things going on in the next couple months; I'm not going to audition for $_PLAY."

I love it when my friends are putting up shows, and they're always good shows. But I don't resent if someone's NOT in a play. I want them to be in a play if and ONLY if THEY want to be in a play.

And that's what your fruitcake project is. You put as much time and effort, and money, into your fruitcake project as our friends put into theater productions.

You don't OWE fruitcakes to anybody, any more than Gilly, Erica, Brian Bermack, Jacob, or any of the rest of them OWE anybody a theater performance. We really like it and appriciate it when they do it, but we only want them to do it if they're doing it for THEMSELVES.

[lomedet.livejournal.com]

I Agree With This Post.

Do what makes you happy, love.

[darkfloweruk.livejournal.com]

*applauds*

I can't say anything better than what your friend already has.

*hugs for both of you.*

[ceo]

xiphias speaks wisdom.

[cereta.livejournal.com]

What she said.

[moria923.livejournal.com]

I agree wholeheartedly.

Another option would be to cut the number of recipients.

[valkyrwench.livejournal.com]

This.

My tastebuds answered before my heart did...

[dakiwiboid.livejournal.com]

xiphias has put it all so beautifully. Your fruitcakes are works of art and love, and when I've received one, it's like getting a piece of glory in a box. However, I hate to think of you exhausting yourself to make them.

Do as much as you want, and not as much as you think others want of you.

[awfief.livejournal.com]

This.

And might I suggest what ceelove did when the massage parties got to be too much -- teach others how to make fruitcake. You could have a "how to make a fruitcake party", and everyone can take home some batter to bake at home, or bring their own dishes and several fruitcakes could be baked at once.

I'd totally come to a "make your own fruitcake" party, if I was available. Most people might not....but honestly, I'd say have 2 varieties of fruitcake in each sampler. I was overwhelmed with the fruitcake last year! 12 is a lot, and I think even 6 is a lot.

[cellio]

I agree with this comment.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Add me to the chorus of agree-ers.

Also, I'll go on record now as saying that I'll not sign up for this year's (if there is one -- totally okay if there isn't) to do my part in easing the burden. Thanks for everything. :)