Not Exactly Like Riding a Bike

They say that once you've mastered riding a bike, you'll always be able to ride a bike. That may be true, but is the same principle true of other things?

Not entirely!

Sixteen years ago, I made my first real wedding cake. It was for my cousin and it served as both a wedding gift from my family and as a chance to launch my career as a wedding cake baker. It turned out beautiful and it was the beginning of a twelve-year run as the owner of Karey's Custom Cakes. During that time, I made hundreds of wedding cakes. I was good at it. I loved the challenge of duplicating the cakes in Martha Stewart Weddings and did cakes worthy of the bridal magazines.

Six years ago, we moved to Idaho. I kept my business going for awhile, but over the next couple of years, it died a natural death. People weren't ordering the cakes I loved to make and I found delivery in the rural area challenging.

It has been almost four years since I did a wedding cake, but as a favor to a friend who had just done me a huge favor, I offered to make his daughter's wedding cake.

Boy, is it different when you're older and out of practice. Everything took a little longer than it should have. I had a couple of near-catastrophes that I won't go into detail about, (maybe they'll appear in my next book) and the delivery to Salt Lake was much more stressful than I remembered. How did I deliver all those other cakes without hyperventilating?

**Let me pause here for a little shout-out to the smoking man in the white Ford pick-up with a tattoo of a lion on his muscular bicep. Thanks for swerving back into your own lane in the nick of time, thereby avoiding my wedding-cake-carrying car. And may I offer this bit of fashion advice--wife-beaters in December aren't a good idea, no matter how proud of your muscle and tattoo you are.**

But I delivered the cake safe and sound and it looked beautiful. The bonus was that I got to see an old friend and meet a couple of new ones. It was a successful day.

I'm not sure if the excitement and thrill of creating something beautiful outweighs the horror of a scary wedding cake delivery, but as Laura Ingalls Wilder always said, "All's well that ends well."

Comments

Anonymous said…
I have not read this yet but had to comment already because that cake!!!! That is my kind of cake. It is soooo beautiful. Good job.
Mindy said…
I loved that cake you made for me! :)
Scott / Lori said…
What a beautiful cake. I am glad it arrived safely. Now take a nap!
Alison said…
What a beautiful cake!! But from you...we wouldn't expect anything less. :o)
Kayla was so excited to be part of the delivery. Thanks for including her.
Anonymous said…
Wow! You haven't lost your touch. that cake is absolutely gorgeous. It took my breath away. I love, the simple and elegant look. You are certainly a multi-talented woman. Love you.
Aim Aug said…
Wow! Karey, it's stunning! You are so amazing!
Becky Darling said…
All I have to say is that your HILARIOUS!!!!! You can always make me laugh!!!