When Sharing Goes Wrong

     Stocking the pantry with all the basics after we got married took a little while, and it was a few weeks before I had everything I needed to finally be able to bake something good.
    The cake had turned out beautifully and was waiting on the countertop to be enjoyed for dessert with supper. 
    I heard the door open and the sound of LVs feet running up the stairs. I went to greet him at the kitchen door, but he was in a hurry. "Is the cake ready?" he asked.
    I had told him my plans for baking earlier as we ate lunch.
    I turned to get him a piece, when he asked if I could package some up for the guy who did our feed rations.
    I was surprised, but went ahead and wrapped some up and he hurried back outside with it.
    Later that evening we talked about it.
    He was used to sharing fresh baked goods with anyone who came up to the farm. It was something he hoped we would continue doing.
    It was all new to me. I couldn't imagine how much food we would have given out had we shared something with everyone who stopped in at our woodworking shop when I was growing up, but if this was what he wanted to do I would certainly do my part.
    Over the next years I lost track of all the things I baked that we never got to eat because someone stopped by. Bread, cookies, cake, pie, and more made their way out of the kitchen and into someone else's hands.
    And then one day LV had to go deliver a load of hay. I had just finished baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies when I looked out the window and saw a vehicle pull up to the barn. A guy got out and entered the doors to the milkhouse.
    By now I was used to making sure no one left empty handed. I quickly packed up some still warm cookies, and went outside to see what he wanted and send the cookies home with him.
    It was the milk inspector. He surveyed my offering of cookies and told me that trying to bribe him will not work.
    I was stunned, I had never thought of trying to bribe him, had never met the milk inspector before so I had no idea that was who he was until that moment. He must have seen the confusion and dismay because he ended up accepting them as I told him they weren't a bribe, but that we give everyone baked goods when they come to the farm.
    I never offered to give an inspector anything ever again, and it took a while for the uncomfortable sting of it all to diminish.
    Thankfully I can somewhat laugh at my naiveness now.

Life - a Glimpse

 If I wouldn't return to any place where something embarrassing has happened to me, there wouldn't be many places left that I could go to.

Another place would have been added to that list this morning.

Everything was uneventful until it was time to get my coat and leave. I was holding my keys in my left hand and without thinking I tried to slide it into my left coat sleeve, only it got stuck midway.

I had my right hand posed ready to slip into my right sleeve. It grew a mind of its own and went plowing into its sleeve instead of helping my left out of the bind it was in. The situation became much worse when halfway into its sleeve one of my nails decided that now would be a good time to tear and catch on the seam.

So there I was, both arms stuck in awkward positions halfway into their respective sleeves, neither of them showing any inclination of releasing. I stood their flapping trying to free myself. The only thing missing from the scene were some seagull noises.

Adventures of Mask Wearing

     Noting the state of the refrigerator and pantry, I knew I had to venture out to restock both. I got what I could at Aldi before heading to Walmart for the rest.

     I dutifully donned my mask before entering the store, and grasping my slightly crumpled grocery list I rallied forth to complete my mission in as little time as possible.

     Nearing the end of my list I noticed I had missed something and would have to turn around and march to the back of the store to get it. "Oh!" I said to myself when I saw it. Big mistake. Opening my mouth like that, and inhaling on the 'oh' sucked a minuscule piece of lint from my mask right into the back of my throat where it clung stubbornly.

     Immediately I had an intense need to cough to get rid of it.

     As everyone knows coughing is frowned upon in today's world. I tried to suppress it, but the need was so great that I barked out a violent cough while carefully avoiding looking at any of the other customers.

     One cough didn't do the trick, but I wasn't about to cough more. I abandoned all other items on my list and made a beeline for the checkout. Tears were streaming from my eyes. They didn't roll down my cheeks though. The mask conveniently soaked them all up for me.

     Never have I ever checked out at such speed before. I paid and then fled to the safety of my vehicle where I coughed in peace and dislodged that piece of lint.

     Hopefully they'll let me back in next time I need to go shopping.

Funny or Embarrassing?

As a mother it's surprisingly easy to embarrass your teens. I managed to do so again yesterday, somewhat spectacularly.

Our library announced that they'll be reopening their drive through for pick ups. I hadn't even realized they have a drive through feature, but with Rosie Mae having the day off work and a stack of requested books ready for me, I decided we'd go find it.

I pulled up alongside the building, past the book drops I had known existed to a window that was set back a little father than the rest of that side of the building. I stopped and the window slid open. The friendly librarians greeted me cheerfully before going to retrieve my books.

As the librarian leaned out her window with the first stack of books, I semi contorted myself and did a weird lunge stretch out my window to get them. In doing so my right foot hit the gas pedal, revving the engine in a most satisfyingly unladylike manner.

Rosie Mae shriveled down, willing herself to quietly disappear. Her dismay heightened by the fact her boss's wife was one of the librarians.

A few more lunges to receive the rest of my books, while successfully not hitting the gas pedal and we were on our way, with me way more amused than she was.

Things That Keep Me Awake at Night

     My parents gave LV and me some nice sturdy oak dining room furniture when we got married. It's still nice and solid, but the years of use have not been kind to the varnish, and we decided it's time to strip off the old varnish and redo them.

     I spent quite a bit of time researching the how-to's of furniture stripping and armed with the knowledge I found on the internet I went to buy the needed supplies. Steel wool, scrapers, sand paper, and a jug of orange stripping gel.

     I labored over that furniture, but was pleased with the results. It was soon clear that I would need to buy more of the stripping compound in order to finish the project. I quickly found my shopping list and scribbled "stripper gunk" at the top and when LV and I went shopping later that week I got some more.

     A few days later one of our friends called. Her husband was out of state on business and she was having some type of mechanical issue. Would LV come to her rescue?

     I joined LV as he went to see if he could help out. It didn't take him long to discover what the problem was. A certain part had to be ordered. "Do you have a piece of paper I can use to write the part number down?" he asked me.

     My purse is usually loaded with anything you can think of, but in all my rummaging through it all I came up with was my used shopping list with neat little checkmarks next to all the items.

      LV took it, scribbled the parts number down, and to my consternation handed it to our friend so she could order it.

      The words "stripper gunk" seemed to grow bigger and bolder at the top of that paper and I wanted to disappear.

      Last night I woke up with that memory going through my mind, and I shuddered in embarrassment again as I wondered what awful images went through our friend's mind when she read those words.

The Verse

     "I'll have to buy a new Bible," Kenneth announced when he came home from church. 

      "What happened with yours?" I asked.

      "There's this young man who has been attending church for the past few weeks, and when he told me he doesn't own a Bible, I gave him mine."

       Part of me felt happy that he would cheerfully part with the Bible he had treasured for years already, while a selfish part of me felt sad that he would give away his good Bible we had given him.

      So this week, I went Bible shopping and bought him a new one. It doesn't have the same memories attached, but the words are the same, and I pray he will continue loving the word of God, and growing in his faith and walk with Christ.

      The Bible he had given away was the one I had mentioned in a post on my now closed, second blog.

     Here's an excerpt from that post:

    When our oldest son had a good grip on reading he could be found with his nose in a history book or the Bible. He didn't care much for fiction books even though we had shelves filled with books I had hoped he would enjoy someday.

     When he was eight we got him his first quality Bible and he was thrilled. For the next several months when ever someone stopped by our house he would wait for an opportunity and proudly show them his Bible, and then read his favorite verse to them. Proverbs 7:27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

     The first time he read that verse to someone I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me. When it didn't I simply pasted a weak smile on my face and managed to steer the conversation to more pleasant paths.

     I wrestled with what I should do. How do I tell my son not to have that as his favorite verse? And why did he choose that one to begin with? I decided not to address the specific verse and instead try to get him to appreciate some more appropriate verses as his favorite. I didn't want to in any way put the thought into his head that part of the Bible is not good.

     Fast forward seven years. He still loves reading his Bible, and last night when my husband and I were heading to bed, we paused for a moment outside our boys bedroom door where I listened to our fifteen year old son read a few chapters of the Bible to his three year old brother., and then explain what he had read. I had to blink back tears of joy as I heard our three year old say, "More, read more!" when his brother announced it was time to sleep.

    Seeing them love God's Word makes this Mama's heart glad. And so happy that I didn't squash his love of the Bible back when the verse he loved the most embarrassed me to no end.

     My prayers are that, that Bible will bless the young man who owns it now.

Privacy Invaded

    I have a decided aversion to public restrooms, and try to avoid them as much as possible. Every once in a while though I have no choice, but to use one.
    Yesterday, at church, I was faced with no other choice. I bravely opened the door and immediately went to the far end of the row of stalls and crept into the door closing it behind me.
     The stall door gives about the same amount of privacy as a hospital gown. I didn't have any scotch tape in my purse to fasten some toilet paper over the gaping crack at the right side of the door so I tried my best to simply ignore it.
     A little later the door opened and I could hear the sound of little feet approaching. They entered the stall right next to me and after some considerable grunting I heard the lock on the door slide shut. A little later the toilet flushed and some more grunting ensued, and finally the little girl simply scooted out under the door leaving it locked.
     Vigorous hand washing followed and then it was time for primping in front of the mirror that was hanging on the wall directly outside my door. I had full view of the goings on from where I was sitting.
     I was surprised that this little girl was in here by herself. She appeared to be around three years old. I watched in consternation as she grabbed both sides of the mirror and yanked at it. I was sure the whole thing would come crashing down on top of her.
    A few seconds later the door opened. "Barbara Grace!" said a no nonsense voice that belonged to a man. "Get over here right now!"
     Little Miss Barbara Grace ignored him and yanked at the mirror again.
     He marched in swiftly and grabbed her up in his arms, but not before our eyes met through that awful crack at the side of the door.
     I think I may need therapy.

Laughter is a Good Medicine

If that's the case I should be in top health!

So there we were yesterday, in church, sitting in the third row from the back. Buddy had his head in my lap almost dozing off. LV had his arm resting along the back of my chair while we were listening to a sermon on peace.

It was all quite peaceful until LV readjusted himself and tried to remove his arm from behind me. In doing so, he accidently bumped my favorite hairclip, which was holding my long hair up in a bun. It went flying out and landed in the lap of the person sitting behind us while my hair cascaded down my back.

I think I might have gasped. I know I lost complete track of what was being preached as my hands flew up to touch what used to be a neat bun. The guy sitting behind us handed my hairclip back and I quickly fixed my hair and then looked at LV.

It was all I could do not to burst out laughing . I managed not to, but we both smiled pretty huge smiles, at which point the people sitting behind us couldn't quite contain their chuckles.

The minute we got to the van after church we burst out laughing, while people in the parking lot, who had not seen what had happened probably wondered what could possibly be so funny.

I do declare, the weirdest things happen to me.

The Clumsies

   This afternoon Rosebud was cringing about a particular clumsy, embarrassing, and yet funny thing that had happened. "I can't believe anyone else ever had to endure all that humiliation," she moaned. Which led to me assuring her, that yes, there are some people who have endured that much and a whole lot more and survived to now be able to laugh about it.
    As a teenager I used to be plagued with a certain talent of executing scenes of spectacular clumsiness.
    Like the time when I was seventeen. Mom and I had been canning peaches. I had just finished getting a new batch into the canner when a van load of visitors drove in.
    "Let them in while I wash my hands," Mom instructed me.
    On my way to the door I scooped up my baby brother. I opened the door to invite them in and as I stepped back I rolled my ankle and sank into a pretzeled heap onto the floor right in front of their politely amused stares.
     I wanted to disappear. I don't remember much of the rest of that day, but that part has been seared into my memory along with many other equally as embarrassing events.
     Things such as the first time I tried making a Thanksgiving meal for LV. Or the time I choked on a piece of lint during a wedding sermon about submissive wives. The first time LV and I had a long buggy ride together, alone, or several years later when I got to meet some of his extended family for the first time.
    Those and many more instances of awkward, cringe worthy clumsiness peppered my teenaged years.
     I'm not sure if hearing about them made Rosebud feel any better, but we both had a good laugh as I reminisced.

Traveling With LV

My cousin Fannie was getting married and since we were close friends I really wanted to go to the wedding. They lived in a little community in New York, their wedding customs were quite different from the ones I grew up with and I looked forward to seeing how everything would be.

Daddy and Mom made plans to attend the wedding. They would get someone to come stay with my brothers while we were gone for several days. They also suggested that LV might enjoy meeting some of my cousins. Since our wedding day was getting closer they thought it would be nice if we would get to have one trip with each other.

I was thrilled at the thought that we could spend most of three days together and when LV's parents gave their okay I could hardly wait until it was time to go to the wedding.

The driver came and we got into the mini van and went to pick up LV.  Daddy sat in the front, Mom and John sat on the next seat while LV and I got to have the last seat to ourselves. It seemed great being able to talk without having to keep an eye on the living room clock. It didn't seem very long before I heard Daddy say something about watching for a place to eat. I hoped he would stop somewhere other than his usual choice of McDonald's and wasn't disappointed when we stopped at a real restaurant.

We all sat together at the same table. I can't recall what I had but still remember that LV ordered a steak. When our orders came he started cutting the fat from his steak. Daddy was sitting across the table from us and was watching as all the fat got set to the edge of LV's plate. I was absolutely mortified when Daddy said, "I'll eat the fat if you don't want it."

I felt like sinking out of sight as after LV's okay Daddy reached over to his plate and got the strips of fat. I had hoped Mom and Daddy would be comfortable around LV, but not quite that comfortable!

Wedding Sermon

Six weeks after I had broken my ankle I went to have another x-ray done on it to see if I could start walking again. I was thrilled when I got an okay, especially since one of LV's cousins were getting married and we were invited.

The wedding was held in the Summit Mills church house. I never liked that church house very well because the benches were all situated rather oddly and the girls always had to sit directly in front of the ministers. This time I managed to get a seat further back since there were a lot of other girls there and I waited until almost last to get in line to file in and take our seats.

The singing was over and the bishop was preaching the main sermon. I was glad I wasn't the bride. Instead of the usual wedding sermon the bishop (father to the groom) was focusing all his energy on stressing the importance of the wife being truly submissive. While I didn't have a problem with the general idea of the husband being the head of the home there was something about the way bishop Sam was preaching that irritated me.

A little later I got the urge to sneeze. I quickly reached into my pocket and got my handkerchief and as I held it to cover my mouth I somehow inhaled and drew a piece of lint back into my throat. I no longer had to sneeze but it tickled so badly that I needed to cough. Not wanting to do that either I tried to suppress the urge and to my consternation tears started rolling down my face.

I quickly wiped them and looked up to see several older married women looking at me sympathetically no doubt thinking I had been quite touched by the sermon on being submissive.

Thanksgiving Weddings ~ Part Two

Thanksgiving morning dawned with a fresh layer of snow on the ground. We hurried with our breakfast and I made the last rounds through the house to make sure everything was spotless before we headed for church.

We decided to leave the wagon at Uncle Eli's house, that Ivan and Raymond could walk the rest of the way which would save us the embarrassment of showing up at church pulling a wagon. especially since there would be so many visitors there.

Right after the wedding ceremony we started for home instead of staying to visit with friends for a while first. It took a little longer to walk home than I had hoped and I immediately starting making lunch. David had invited LV and he would be coming at any minute. Desperate to have the kitchen smelling good from cooking I poked at the few lonely red coals remaining in the bottom of the cook stove. I sent Mahlon to the shop to gather an armful of small wood scraps in hopes I could coax the fire to burn sooner that way. I was more than a little frustrated that I had forgotten to bank the stove properly before leaving for church that morning.

LV came before I had started cooking and I breathed a sigh of relief when the fire finally started burning nicely. Going into the pantry I brought the turkey and potatoes. I was going to make mashed potatoes and fry the turkey in a pan with melted butter and flour seasoned with choice spices. I lifted the lid from the pot containing the turkey I had cooked the previous day and lifted out a few pieces. They were totally coated in aspic and I tried my best to scrape it off before putting them in the frying pan.

I felt extremely self conscious with LV sitting in the kitchen watching and it didn't help knowing that he could only stay for an hour since he had to go home and do all the chores on their dairy by himself. Getting a pack of frozen corn from the basement he told me I don't have to make a huge meal that he would be happy with just turkey and potatoes.

I put all my focus on the turkey which was fast becoming a disaster. The aspic that I had failed to remove was melting and instead of the turkey getting a nice crispy coating it was sticking to the pan and was surrounded by the most disgusting looking glop. With most of my attention fixed on trying to salvage the turkey I forgot to monitor the potatoes which gleefully burned to the bottom of the saucepan. I frantically removed the top few layers and mashed them and then turned back to the turkey which was now hopelessly stuck to the bottom of the frying pan. Trying to pry it loose a whole drumstick catapulted out of the frying pan and landed on the floor and just as fast a bad word that I hadn't said in years popped out of my mouth.

I was absolutely mortified as my brothers all looked at me with wide eyes and LV watched my cooking efforts with a slight grin. Dishing everything out into bowls I placed them on the table and sank wearily into my chair.

After a silent prayer everyone took a helping of potatoes and turkey. The potatoes were lumpy and too late I realized I had forgotten to make gravy. The turkey was even worse. The outside was slightly warm but the rest was still thoroughly cold.

After we were done eating my brothers started clearing the table while I followed LV to the basement to see him off. I thought the whole day was ruined when he paused at the door and looking into my eyes he held my hand and said, "I love you. I'll see you tonight when we go for the wedding reception."

I headed back upstairs. My heart singing. Even after being served such a disastrous meal LV said he loved me.

To be continued

Meeting Future Family ~ Part One

LV and I had been courting for a little more than a year when he told me that his Grandma and some of his aunts and cousins were coming to visit and he really wanted me to meet them. Especially his cousin Emma. He was sure we would be great friends if we got to know each other.

I asked Mom and Daddy permission and was happy when they agreed that I could have a day to go spend at LV's home and get to know more of his extended family.

When the day arrived I took special pains in getting ready and found my stomach all turned into knots at the thought of meeting so many strangers and having them form opinions about me. I was hoping that somehow I would be able to make a favorable first impression.

John hitched Fern to our single buggy and gave me a ride to LV's home. As I got off the buggy LV's Mom came out of the house and John drove down the lane. As I walked over the lawn to the house she came to meet me and said "Emma couldn't come after all and it had been because of her that they had invited me." My stomach twisted and I felt like running down the driveway after John and the buggy. "You can still come on in since John has left already." she continued.

I followed her into the house and as I entered the screen door closed a little too fast and caught the back of my shoe neatly removing it from my foot and leaving it on the porch. I was mortified as I quickly retrieved it and tried to slip it on but it seemed my foot had grown several sizes and it wasn't going to go back into that shoe without a fight. By the time I actually got inside the house everyone was looking at me. I wished I could sink through the floor. Thankfully LV came and rescued me and invited me to come upstairs where he and his cousins were playing a game. I was happy to get away from all the curious, amused stares and followed him upstairs in hopes that I would be able to salvage at least a little bit of my dignity.

Sounds

We have quite an assortment of sounds surrounding us. This morning when I focused on individual sounds I was amazed how many different things I listen to at the same time. No wonder I feel tired.

1. This sheep is lonely and spends the majority of it's time bleating for it's departed friend. I feel very sorry for it that it still has to wear it's thick wool coat even during this extra warm summer.
2. Living right next to a busy road lends lots of sounds, cars and pickups aren't too bad but the semi's with their noisy engine brakes, and all the motorcycles make a lot of noise.
3. The sound of the wind in the majestic pine trees behind the house.
4. The birds enjoy the trees and their sweet songs fill the air constantly.
5. A very happy elderly neighbor whistles all.... day.... long. But only one note. And rests only long enough to take a breath before whistling again. I'm getting used to it now but there were days that I had to close the windows because I couldn't take it any longer.
6. Mama beef cows and their calves calling to each other.
7. Several mourning doves calling for rain.
8. A family of very noisy Canada geese.
9. The chatter and laughter of three happy children.
10. The hum of the refrigerator and the washer and dryer.
11. A lawn mower. We live in a very mow happy neighborhood and we hear someone's lawnmower everyday.
12. Then of-course there are the occasional unusual sounds. Like that of a woman giving a horrified gasp when she is on her front porch right beside a busy highway trying to hang something on a hook that requires her to use a chair to stand on. And in her efforts she happens to step on her skirt.    I would like to apologize to the poor unsuspecting motorists who were passing at that unfortunate moment and assure you I will do everything in my power to keep that from happening again. 

Plans

A few weeks after I started attending the singings with the youth group I was approached by one of my best friends after church. She told me she and her boyfriend Vernon, were planning to get married and wanted me to be one of her brides maids and be escorted by LV.

I told her I would be honored to be her bridesmaid and wondered how it would seem to be at LV's side for an entire day. The wedding date was still several months away so I didn't think about it very much. 

The following Sunday our youth group attended church and singing in a neighboring district since it was more than an hours drive they borrowed a few buggies to make that we wouldn't be crowded and have only two people in each buggy.

I got up early and was ready by the time LV drove into our driveway. I folded my shawl and took it along just in-case it would get cold on the way home. It was a beautiful morning and the ride was pleasant. We hadn't been on the road very long before LV asked if Fannie had said anything to me about being escorted by him at her wedding. I told him I had already told her I would be happy to be her bridesmaid. He seemed pleased, and we continued visiting all the way to the Summit Mills church house.

After church I went home with some of my friends while LV went to his cousins house. The afternoon passed swiftly and when evening came so did LV to give me a ride to the singing. I tried to sort my feelings out as we once again had a very pleasant ride. He wasn't like he used to be in school and I actually enjoyed his company.

After the singing was over and we were on our way home I was happy that we would have a long ride together. This had been one of the best days I had ever experienced. As we rode through the night the horse didn't seem to be in any particular hurry and for once LV didn't seem to mind letting him walk uphill and down.

Once we got home almost two hours later I thanked him for the ride and he told me I was more than welcome and he was looking forward to the wedding and that we would be able to ride together without Vernon before long.  I was thrilled to hear him say that and as I stepped off the buggy my foot missed the step and I fell down. He jumped out to see if I was okay but I couldn't even look at him as I hurried to the house and up to my room. I was so humiliated that I had to ruin what had otherwise been a perfect day by falling off his buggy for the last thing.

In Which I Learn .....

Ever since Mom had a Country Air story published in the Pennsylvania Farmer magazine we looked forward to reading that section even more. One day when we came home from school we noticed that the latest issue had arrived. We hurried to change our clothes and then settled down to read it.

This time it was about a man that had a bull that he couldn't fatten, so he finally fed it a lot of bran and then just before it was time to take him to the sale-barn he let him drink water, the bull of-course bloated up and he got a nice price for him. The new owner was disappointed when a few hours later his nice bull was very skinny again.  For some reason this story and the way it was written really amused us and I tucked it away in my memory for future reference.

Several months later Mom's brother David and his wife Barbara came to visit us one Sunday afternoon. They had been married for almost a year, and I always enjoyed having Barbara around. She was so pretty, her laughter so musical, and she always made sure to visit with me personally. She was fast becoming one of my favorite aunts.

Today how ever I noticed that she no longer looked as slender as she used to. She was still fun to be around though and the afternoon was passing by with everyone visiting pleasantly, when all of a sudden I blurted out. "It looks like Uncle David fed bran to Barbara."  The conversation stopped as Barbara turned bright pink and Mom looked absolutely horrified. Daddy quickly started talking about something else and Mom asked me to come help her mix up a fresh batch of lemonade.

When we were by ourselves she explained that David and Barbara would soon have a baby and that is the reason why Barbara looks that way. I felt mortified that I had opened my big mouth, and was sure I couldn't go back to where everyone else was visiting and face Barbara after I had been so rude. Mom told me to help serve the lemonade, as I handed the glass to Barbara I was relieved to note that she didn't seem upset with me as she smiled her usual bright smile as she thanked me.

I was quiet for the rest of the afternoon as I mulled over the many questions I had to ask Mom once I got an opportunity.

More Eggs

I enjoyed Saturdays. It was nice to have a day off from school and help Mom around the house. We always cleaned the house extra well in preparation for Sunday. The windows had to be washed and all the floors mopped and once a month waxed. We would let the fire die in our Pioneer Maid cook-stove and take the ashes out. We would wash the stove top and then get an emery cloth and rub the top until it looked shiny and new again. I strongly disliked this job, not that it wasn't a pleasure to see a shiny stove top but because the sound of the emery cloth being rubbed back and forth across the top made a horrible sound and always made me shiver.

On this particular Saturday we got up earlier than normal and hurried with the cleaning in hopes to get done in time to cook a good meal for lunch. One of the men from church was coming over with his bulldozer to do some landscaping around the house and he was planning to eat with us. He was one of the ministers so that made it extra important to have everything nice before lunch.

Once the cleaning was done we started with lunch. Mom let me set the table with her Blue Willow dishes. They weren't as pretty as the china we used for Sundays but nicer than our everyday dishes. I carefully set the table. Daddy would sit at the head as usual and Mom and I at the side Roy would sit at the end and John and David at the other side. I felt important to be able to sit next to Roy. He was such a kind friendly man and I always enjoyed listening to him preach in his sing song voice, it was hard to believe that it was possible for him to have an obnoxious little boy like LV for his son.

After the table was set I helped Mom prepare the food while John and David knelt on the wood-box to look out the window and watch as Roy was digging out some of the bushes and pushing dirt to make our yard nicer.

Mom had hard boiled a dozen eggs and I peeled and cut them in half carefully. Mom showed me how to mash the yolks and then mix in the salad dressing and seasonings. I was thrilled to be able to make them all by myself and admired the plate full of devilled eggs as we all sat down to eat.

After a silent prayer we started passing the food. Our plates were filling up with steaming mashed potatoes and fried chicken when Daddy got the plate filled with the devilled eggs and took several and passed them to Mom. I took one and as I started passing it to Roy I just had to let him know that I had made these, and I barely got done telling him when I happened to tip the plate a little too much and I watched in horror as the entire plate of devilled eggs dumped into his lap and fell on the floor and I was left sitting there holding an empty plate.

Roy took the plate from my hand and started picking them up. Mom hurriedly got up to help clean up the mess. After everything was cleaned up Roy took an egg. Mom told him he doesn't have to eat a dirty egg, but he said they don't look that dirty and he wants to see how good I can cook already. He smiled at me and ate his egg and informed me it was indeed very tasty. It helped my embarrassment a little and I thought he must be one of the greatest men ever.