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Make New Friends, But Keep the Old

Today I visited with an old friend. I hadn’t seen him in ten years, and he looked just the same, particularly his welcoming smile. No, this wasn’t a romantic reunion (his husband would object to that), but it was an important one. This was someone who supported me in my darkest hours, when I most needed friends and had very few I could count on.

I won’t go into details of those dark hours, except to say they sure separated the wheat from the chaff when it came to the people in my life. Today, I wonder what a similar situation would do to my current group of friends. I don’t like to think about it, but I’m acutely aware of the consequences of our worst moments.

We all have life-changing moments that open our eyes to a reality we hadn’t fully comprehended before. Okay, if you haven’t, you’re young and it will happen. These moments aren’t always bad, in fact, they can be very good. It’s important to recognize them and hold on to their meaning in our lives.

But more importantly, it’s important to hang on to the friends we make during these times. Life may separate us physically, but love will keep the friendship alive.

One is silver and the other gold

Image Credits: Friendship sign © alexlmx–stock.adobe.com; Silver and Gold © Destina–stock.adobe.com

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Bologna and Cheeses

Daily writing prompt
Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?
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When I was young, a favorite meal of mine was something you’d likely never find in a cookbook. We called these sandwiches bologna and cheeses, and they were a kind of disgusting mixture of (you guessed it) ground bologna and ground cheese, with ketchup, onions, and probably some other stuff mixed in. My mom would grind the bologna and cheese in a meat grinder, nothing electric like you’d find today, all done by hand.

To make the sandwiches, you first broiled one side of the bread, just enough to toast it, then spread the gloppy mix on the other side and broiled that until it was blackened just a little. They were yummy. Today’s prompt asks me which food when I eat it instantly transports me to childhood, and I haven’t eaten any of these in years. But the thought of them brings back happy memories.

Remember these?

One of the happiest was from a fourth-grade project. Our student teacher was getting married, and we were all given a 4×6 recipe card and told to write instructions for our favorite meal on it. We were asked to remember that Miss Stone, the student teacher, was a novice cook and to bring simple, easy-to-make recipes.

Somehow, that last bit of instruction got lost in the homes of most of the students, and they brought in complex recipes that would intimidate the most experienced chefs. However, I dutifully wrote out instructions for Bologna and Cheeses and presented that recipe to Miss Stone, now Mrs. Lisle.

It was her husband’s favorite. In fact, she made it for his friends when they were over watching football, and ended up sending the recipe home with all of them, as well.

It’s nice when a gift is appreciated, and especially nice when you’re nine years old and your teacher compli ments you in front of the whole class.

I doubt I’ll ever eat Bologna and Cheeses again, but the memory is a strong one.

Image Credits: Cats Cooking © TopMedia; Meat Grinder © ~Bitter~; Recipe Cards ©  Noel; All-stock.adobe.come

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June is for Cats

Well, I was taking a look at the holiday calendar for June and came across a few celebrations that involved (you guessed it) cats. June 4 was National Hug Your Cat Day (like I’m going to limit that to one day a year), June 19 is National Garfield the Cat Day, and my favorite, June 16 is National Take Your Cat to Work Day.

I’d love to take Walter and Mimi to work and let them explore my office habitat. I picture my co-workers bending down to pet them while I smile and look on. The reality, however, would be quite different and I know it. My kitties would run and look for a place to hide while those around me, dog lovers all, would mutter, “what’s the big deal about cats?” Someone would try to pick up Mimi and she’d squirm to get away, clawing them as she did so.

This is not how most cats would behave in the office.

I don’t know who thought of National Take Your Cat to Work Day, but I think they had a romanticized idea of how cats would behave in the workplace. I have a hard enough time with them when I’m on my computer while working from home. It’s difficult to train cats, so how many of us do, although my kitties do respond to a firm “down!” when I’m trying to get them away from my computer.

But the overall feeling I get from this holiday is one of love. We love our cats and want to show them off, but there isn’t a whole lot of opportunity to do. So even though I won’t be bringing my cats to work next Monday (much to the relief of my manager), I want to share how sweet and loving they are. Walter and Mimi, you’re the best!

Image Credits: Header © Thiago–stock.adobe.com; Cat at work (“photo”) © kegfire–stock.adobe.com; Photos of Walter and Mimi © Belinda O

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Walter Doesn’t Want Me To Knit

I’ve been working on a sweater for my cousin’s new son, Arnie, and Walter has had enough of the knitting being in my lap instead of him. “Think you’re going to get any further, Mama? I’m hiding the instructions!”

Oh, but I finished the sweater. Can’t wait to send it.

I finished the sweater–despite the furry interruptions!
You wouldn’t take yarn from a cat, would you?

Image Credits: Cesar Cat © Belinda O; Paws in Heart © Bigstock Photos; Yarn and Cat © Morris–stock.adobe.com

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Thoughts on the Holiday Weekend

I had such high hopes for this holiday weekend. There was so much I thought I could get done. Instead, I spent most of the time knitting and watching TV. I did get to church, which given the weather was iffy, and I did get a few things done around the apartment, like vacuuming and laundry.

Now, part of the reason I couldn’t get everything done was so much was closed due to the holiday. The recycling center and the thrift shop were both closed on Monday, and that was really the far better day to drop stuff off. Not because Saturday morning wasn’t an option, but it’s usually so busy at both places. Plus, I did get my grocery shopping done on Saturday, and doing all three things just isn’t going to happen.

Because my car is so small, I only have room for groceries, recycling, or donated items, not all three or even two at once. The grocery store is close, but the other two are a bit of a distance, and in opposite directions from each other. So you can that logistically, it takes some strong motivation to get it all done. And I don’t have that kind of motivation.

Besides, the weather was not cooperating. There were thunderstorms off and on, and I avoid going outside when lightning is striking. We had a strike hit the building across the parking lot from me last year, and that was enough to keep me inside whenever I hear a crack and a rumble.

I am, however, grateful this Memorial Day weekend was not like last year’s. On Sunday morning of the holiday weekend last year (and by morning, I mean 1 a.m.) seven tornadoes hit our county, four F3s and three F2s. That’s a lot of terrible damage, and I know of several people still cleaning up after it a year later.

I’m grateful for so much this Memorial Day. Grateful the weather wasn’t too bad, grateful no one I knew was killed or seriously hurt last year, grateful I can rest and relax and know the tasks will get done in good time.

But most of all I’m grateful to the men and women who died fighting for freedom and liberty. Their sacrifices enable so much in my life. As I was writing this, some Mormon missionaries came to my door. While I don’t share all that they believe, we each have the freedom to express our faith without fear of retribution.

I pray those freedoms never go away.

Image Credits: Header (Memorial Day) © Ilja–stock.adobe.com; Small Car © Diclonius–stock.adobe.com; Lightning Bolt © Andi–stock.adobe.com; Grateful © Handini_Atmodiwiryo–stock.adobe.com; Remember and Honor © Stafeeva–stock.adobe.com