Tribute

My life just got a little simpler, sort of. It started last week. I asked Jenny, “So What’s in the diffusor?”  “It sort of reminds me of how my clothes smell. In fact, it reminds me how my food smells.

Then it dawned on me. My food not only smells like my clothes and the essential oils being diffused, a combination of peppermint and lavender, it tastes like them too.

I told a friend about this. She asked me what it tasted like, hoping I would say something like “ice cream” or “strawberries.” Don’t I wish!

I disappointed/shocked her by saying it’s hard to describe- maybe, comparable to a fine spray of Pennzoil applied to the foods I’m eating leaving them somewhat indistinguishable from each other. Yuk!

The upside, if there is one, is I don’t need to worry about food choices so much. My life just got a little simpler!

Somewhat joking aside, I was told my tasting experience is a side effect of the chemo. It will not be permanent. Better not be!

But, damn, what a time of year for this!

As unhappy as I am about this, I can tell you there is someone else, a food lover above all food lovers, who would be more angry than I about my experience. Actually, outraged and offended at what I’m dealing with.

She wasn’t just a cook, but a gourmet cook. Years ago as a young woman going through a divorce, she started a catering business to help support herself and her young daughter. She loved cooking and loved the pleasure her efforts brought to others.

She loved all things chocolate, especially cakes and pies. Dark chocolate in particular. For her, chocolate deserved special recognition as a food group like fruits or vegetables.

She made the best Mexican food- tamales, refried beans, enchiladas, all from scratch.

She combined filet mignon steak with guacamole to make the best sandwich ever.

She baked cookies. She lovingly began making them at this time of year to the delight of family and friends, shipping them nationwide. If you were lucky enough to make it on to her “Santa” list, you were truly blessed. One recipient, a family member living in California, would wait expectantly for the “package” to arrive. Once delivered by the UPS guy,  he would announce “The cookies have arrived!” to his family. Moments later, the cold milk would be poured, and the indulgence would begin.

Thanksgiving was a special time for her. Pies, turkey, stuffing and a gravy recipe passed down from her mother were her signature gifts. She loved this time of year more than any other. She continued her loving efforts, year after year, right up into her early nineties. She made her signature gravy for us to enjoy on what would be her last holiday before her passing just six months later.

Previously, enjoying God’s presence and communing with him through the care of her visiting pastor.

Now, enjoying God’s presence in a new setting, communing with Jesus along with all the saints who went before her.

“Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” – Revelation 19:9

Thanks, mom, for making this time of year magical for us.

Love you!