As a kid, I remember hearing the stories of Jack London and oyster pirating in the San Francisco Bay. This weekend I got to add oyster shucking-at the foot of the Golden Gate Bride during the best day of another couple’s life-to the list of jobs I’ve done.
It was a casual wedding for about 60, organized by the groom who made the chili and bride who made macaroni and cheese. There was also gluten-free mac and cheese. Chinese roast duck came from a restaurant, and one of the three of us hired to work barbecued tri-tip.
Before dinner we shucked live oysters. The only other time I remember shucking oysters was with my girlfriend a couple years ago. I was trying to impress her and took her to Tomales Bay. But this job is always different, and instead of putting on my black shirt and tie to serve, I spent the night in the kitchen shucking barbecued oysters as they came hot off the grill for the buffet line. After dinner it was time for the help to eat. A mound of barbecued oysters were left over.
Holidays don’t mean much when you don’t have a regular job. But on this Labor Day, I am reminded that I’ve been fortunate in finding rich experiences in whatever I’ve done.
“I wanted to be where the winds of adventure blew.”
-Jack London, “John Barleycorn”
Eric Louie 