Forty-something & Following Dreams. The Ledette Gambini Story.

 
              Ledette in her organic, edible garden 

Ledette Gambini is a perfect example of the type of woman I had in mind when I started the SheSez feature Reinvent Yourself. She has had numerous careers and life changes in her 30’s and 40’s and she’s facing yet another challenge in the year 2010.

Here in L.A. many of you might think her name is Leda.  She owned the popular Leda’s Bakery on Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks for four years – known for show-stopping presentation, exotic flavors like dulce de leche, and gourmet treats like her Oatmeal Cranberry cookies (which she so kindly shared the recipe for!). 

  

 Ledette icing cake at Leda's and another creation below   

 But Leda’s closed down over a year ago – in the midst of a thriving business.  The move shocked Ledette’s friends and family and bummed out legions of loyal clients.  We’ll get to that decision in a minute – but first a little back-story on this cool woman.

Ledette went to Vanderbilt for under grad and then got an international MBA with a concentration in marketing and Russian.  She worked in a non-profit Russian hospital for a while and then “felt like I needed to get a real, traditional career. That’s what you did – right?  Went to college and did what was expected even though you weren’t passionate about it.”

She traveled back to the states and got a job in Marketing with Levi Strauss and the Gap but “something was missing.”  On the weekends and at night, Ledette, living in San Francisco at the time, went to pastry school.  “I’d always enjoyed cooking at home with my family. My dad was Italian and we did that together. All our family events were planned around food.  Turns out I loved those pastry classes. I had an amazing teacher and thought – what’s not to love? I started thinking about opening my own shop.  I took about a year – I did marketing consulting from home to pay bills – and I formulated my plan. I baked non-stop for friends and experimented with recipes.  I figured out what the cost would be to open a shop and then I just did it.  Leda’s become a reality.” 

“I really loved Leda’s and for awhile that passion sustained me.  But ultimately I felt like I was giving up my life for it.  I had to get up at two or three o’clock in the morning and start baking. When you run a bakery you must have fresh goods each and every morning.  Sure, I had help, but none of the early morning workers lasted long.  They were always quitting.  I just had to do it myself to make sure it got done. And then I’d have to stay through the day to manage the shop.  I was turning forty, and it hit me: I want a family and a child. I want a life!  I struggled over it for quite some time. I thought – how has this thing I dreamt of given me a ball and chain?  It’s preventing me from living.  One particularly busy night – it was a big party night – maybe the Oscars – I baked my butt off all day and was exhausted.  While closing I thought – well now everyone has their baked goods and they can go off to their parties. But it hit me - I was alone.  There were no parties for me. I went home by myself and felt sad.”

Ledette told her close friends and family she was closing down. “It was really hard. They said ‘you’re closing down just when you’ve reached success?’  I had to work really hard to make them understand why I was doing it. I tried to sell the shop, but no one who was interested could get financing in this economy.  I shut down, sold the equipment and took a loss. I just had to eat it.”

            The lanai in Ledette's back yard with potted citrus trees in foreground 

As we sat under the lanai in Ledette’s Valley Village backyard she pointed to her beautiful edible garden.  “See this garden?  It is me decompressing.”  Ledette, who suddenly had time on her hands, started taking gardening classes. Her yard was all lawn and shrubs. “I got the landscape artist John Lyons to help me.  We were laughing because there was not one worm in my soil – that’s how unhealthy my yard was. It was filled with decades of pesticides.  We ripped out everything.  It felt so good! John brought a big truck of compost and we dumped it and just let it sit for 6 months. Then one fall morning John (who also contributes to SheSez by the way) and I planted some winter vegetables – chard, kale, lettuces, and onions.  And I just loved watching it grow!  Suddenly seeds would pop up and it made me feel connected to the earth.  I was feeding myself with this garden, but more than that, I was feeding my soul.”

 

Cut to now, a year and a half later.  Ledette not only has winter veggies, but fruit trees, and seedlings for summer veggies almost ready to plant.  She just got accepted to the University of California common grounds or master garden program to become a highly trained gardener with a special focus on teaching inner city residents how to grow their own food.  “I applied last year and was turned down. So I reapplied this year and finally got in. I’m really excited about it.  I have no idea where I’m going to be in one year – but I think to myself – ten years from now – would you wish you did this?  The answer is yes. I don’t want regrets.”

 
 
So you’re probably wondering – how does this woman do it?  Let’s take the financial aspect first.  “I’m really lucky.  I had a financial cushion to begin with. There was no way I could have changed directions so many times and done something like opening my own bake shop without that cushion. But I’ve nearly used that up.  And, while I do this master gardening program, I plan on temping to support myself.”

Okay, we got it. But what about fear?  How does she combat that?  “There’s been a lot of fear to be honest. I look at all my friends.  They’re now top executives after 20 years of working in their fields.  I’m starting all over again – at the bottom.  I have a master’s degree and I’m going to be temping. But I just remind myself that this is what I am choosing to do.  So much of what I’ve done is unconventional. I’m kind of used to it. ”

And, yet Ledette is making plans for yet something else one might say is unconventional.  “I’m trying to adopt a baby.  I’ve applied for a foster baby – I know it can be a tough road – but that is what I want to do.  I don’t want to go through life without a child and I’m not waiting for a man.  Look, I do hope I meet someone and I think I will – but I’m not waiting.” 

We look forward to seeing those baby pictures. 

Comments

[Lori]

Leda,

You go girl! Two years ago, at age 48, I adopted a baby (as a single woman), and just got married on 2/27/10 (for the first time). I've changed careers, and am currently at another crossroad. Have the courage to follow your dreams!

BTW, If you are looking for an adoption attorney or want some advice, email me.

Best wishes from Studio City,
Lori

[linda Grasso]

How incredibly sweet of you Lori to share your story. That is so cool that you adopted as a single woman. I really admire your strength and your conviction to do exactly what you want and know is right for you. Had I not met and married my husband - and were I single in my forties -- I believe I would have done the very same thing. Believe it or not I have another friend, in addition to Ledette, who is also beginning the process of adopting as a single woman.

I will make sure Ledette sees your email - and my other friend too.
xoxo

[Ryan]

Thank you so much for this interview. Leda's was my family's favorite bakery (oh how I miss the full size chocolate cupcakes, best ever!), and we were so sad to see it close. I'd been wondering what happened to Ledette, so it's good to see an update on her whereabouts. Although I'm sad she won't be coming back to baking, I'm so happy that she's following her heart and doing something more suited to finding fulfillment.

Cheers.

[linda grasso]

I feel the exact same way Ryan - sad to see the bakery close - but happy she is following her dreams. Thanks for your comment.

[Megan]

Dot, I'm so psyched to hear about your success with Leda's and your latest adventure. You will make an incredible foster mother and the most masterful gardener. Wishing you luck and love with this next chapter.