Changing of The Guard, or How Cake can get on Your Pants

Kevin has been the leader of our retreat planning team for about three and half years. After our last retreat, he announced he would be stepping down. We’ve all been through a lot; with any group there’s so many things that happen over time. Kevin has been an amazing and capable leader, and we’ve been really lucky to have him in that role. He’s handled some uncomfortable things with poise, balanced out people’s feedback and feelings, and played all sorts of administrative roles.

To celebrate Kevin’s tenure, fellow team member Tammy graciously ordered a cake, and bought some champagne. She chose the “Transformer” cake because it matched our last theme. A little cheesy, yes, but we all loved it.

Here’s the cake:

We all decided to gather around Kevin and his cake. I’m not in this photo since I was taking it. I later ran in to Kevin’s left. (He’s the one holding the cake).

We were all in place and ready for a group photo, and that’s when it seemed like Kevin was tipping the cake. I thought he was joking around, as I saw him fumbling with it. Before I knew it, Kevin was yelling “Oh, no!” and the cake was being wildly launched from it’s tray, and then coming crashing straight down onto Kevin’s shirt and pants. It happened in the blink of an eye.

Here’s Kevin laughing right afterwards. He said he was trying to “save the carpet.”

I can’t even think of the last time I laughed so hard. Here’s the cake after it had had it’s little accident.

Shortly after this hilarious turn of events, I offered to take on the role of the team leader. So, I’ll be leading the team for the next couple of years. I’m sure it will be a great challenge. I’m super excited about the fun that awaits, the friends that I’ll have by my side. And I just cross my fingers that Kevin didn’t accidentally create a tradition that will need to be carried out when I someday step down from the post.