Blog Index - December 2017

December 1, 2017	Washer door latch broken.
December 2, 2017	My big game hunter is in excellent form
December 3, 2017	The Button
December 5, 2017	Who is that raking leaves?
December 6, 2017	Snowflake Shortbread pan - recipe
December 7, 2017	“I wore the ‘e’ off the typewriter.”
December 8, 2017	Fashion tip – full skirts
December 9, 2017	A friend as a simple question
December 10, 2017	Insight into how the other half lives.
December 11, 2017	Sexual harassment bandwagon
December 12, 2017	Passoire – pronounced [paswar]
December 13, 2017	Attempted Christmas Shopping
December 14, 2017	A shopping experience with a Capital E
December 15, 2017	I think we’ve become our parents
December 16, 2017	‘ . . . you expect romance like in the movies’
December 17, 2017	Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
December 18, 2017	Live Christmas trees and surprise asthma
December 19, 2017	Deck the Halls with boughs of Holly
December 20, 2017	Paper straightener
December 21, 2017	The crystal bride’s basket
December 22, 2017	J. C. Nichols Memorial Fountain, Kansas City, Missouri
December 23, 2017	Newspaper Boy?
December 24, 2017	Christmas Eggnog
December 25, 2017	Baked Stuffed Shrimp - recipe
December 26, 2017	Lobster Newburg Vol Au Vents - recipe
December 27, 2017	Patience – Waiting without complaint
December 28, 2017	After Christmas Sales
December 29, 2017	Belgian Endive – date on experiment
December 30, 2017	The phrase “Get your workspace ready for the new year”
December 31, 2017	Times have changed

December 31, 2017       Times have changed

         Santa Claus brought me a “fake” fur collar.  It is a black fur collar that wraps around your neck and one end tucks into the other at the front or you can wear it like a scarf.  I’d been admiring them for the last few years and finally the prices have dropped, there was a sale, and a style and color I liked.  Best of all, Santa was with me that day.  Santa likes a sale just as much as anyone does.

         Since Christmas, I’ve worn it a couple of times.  I am amazed at how warm it makes you feel.  It is just an eight-inch width by 48 inches long swath of black fake fur draped around your neck and chest but it is a furnace of warmth.

         Putting it on this evening getting ready for Mass tonight, it reminded me of a childhood moment in church.

         Back then, in the mid 1960s women dressed for church and our little 150 seat Catholic church was no different.  Pumps, pillbox hats, gloves, and there was one “well to-do” woman who would wear real fox furs.  She had a pair of them, and the nose of one would clamp near the tail of the other and that nose of the other would clamp on the first one’s tail.  One fox would drape along her chest and the other around the back and shoulders of her trim-fitted tweed wool suit.  Being a small parish, I knew just about everyone who attended our church, but this woman would often come to our church during the Christmas Holidays as a visitor.  I never knew who she was.

         Being about six or eight years old at the time, I was awe struck by the foxes, especially the one time the woman sat in front of me at Mass.  I was sitting next to my Mom who watched me looking at the fox dangling in my full view. Half way through Mass as we were standing, my little hand reached out to touch the big fluffy tail and my Mom unobtrusively slipped her hand over mine and entwined my fingers in hers softly and held my hand for much of the Mass.  The temptation had been too much for me and my mother understood that and hadn’t made a scene by scolding me.  I sure got my up-close look – but NO TOUCH that day.

         So, when I see an old movie of the 1940 or 1950’s vintage that has an actress in a trim wool suit and fox furs draped over her – I sit up and pay close attention.  I still think they are glamorous and stylish.

         Yes, times have changed, anyone wearing a real fur risks being painted by the save the animal activists.  I know, I know . . .

         But, no one can tell me that everyone is struck with horrors when then see fake fur these days.  The glamour is still there and I had a taste of it tonight. I couldn’t help but notice others glancing my way – not with distain, but what I perceived to be a silent want hidden behind a subtle smile.

         I actually was hoping that there was a small child behind me at church so I could graciously let him or her pet my fur collar.

         Memories are wonderful things – they can transport you back in time in an instant.

         I hope you have many good memories on New Year's Eve.

Happy New Year to you.

December 30, 2017       The phrase, “Get your workspace ready for the new year -”

          - summoned me silently as I opened my e-mailbox this morning.  It was merely an advertisement from Staples letting me know about this week’s sales.  But, I’ve been pondering it now way into my second cup of morning coffee.

When you are retired, like I am now, what exactly is your workspace? 

      Is it the workspace for the hobby(ies) you had during all the years you worked full time and now they have become your full-time occupation?

      Is it your workspace related to how you manage your everyday life – like cooking meals or cleaning house? 

      Is it your workspace where you manage paying your bills, writing personal letters, keeping your tax receipts, personal birthday lists, and addresses?

      At this time of year, is it where you plan your budget, review your goals and set new ones for the coming year?

From my perspective, it can’t be reduced to a desk or a file cabinet or a kitchen counter or kitchen pantry, or the mudroom where laundry takes place, or the gardens outside where I love to play in the dirt.  I obviously have more than one workspace.

How does one get ready for the New Year?  It is an awesome question. Is it just a matter of making some resolutions and winging it?  I’ve discovered over the years “failing to plan is planning to fail” rings more true in January than at any other time of the calendar year. 

Example, start a diet without a plan of nutrition or exercise – how far will that get you  – aches and pains and starvation doesn’t make one willing to continue very long. 

Vowing to save more money without a realistic budget leads to emergency outlays of cash almost weekly. 

Planning to keep your house neater when one puts away the laundry doesn’t work well if the closets and bureau drawers are already chocked full.

The question really is – where do you begin, how do I identify my workspace? How do I get ready for the New Year? I wonder how I ever accomplish everything I do leisurely now when I was working full time? Is that why life zipped by in a flash?  I guess that was why I often used the phrase – “I want to retire so that I can have a life or get my life back.”

I’ve heard that phrase – I want my life back – a dozen times over the holidays from friends working long hours. I empathize with everyone who has said that to me. But, back to the phrase – get your workspace ready for the New Year – I guess I will just have to identify all my workspaces and then see if any of them are not ready and add them to my New Year’s resolutions.

A week or so ago, I started my resolutions:

1.    Straighten my desk and make my to-do list daily.

2.    Continue to picture straighten

3.    Identify all my workspaces

4.    Once workspaces identified – organize each in turn in order to save time through efficiency

This should keep me busy at least through the cabin-fever days of January. Maybe by February I’ll be ready to face 2018 squarely and glide through it with more grace and more time for myself. 

I wonder what I can do with all the extra time I might just carve out for myself?  I’ll dream on that later.

December 29, 2017 – Belgian Endive – update on experiment

         It is great to report that forcing ‘chicons’ from roots of Belgian endive, (Cichorium intrybus), can be done by a novice.

         My objective was to have fresh chicons of Belgian endive for Christmas eating.  I was partially successful. [See my November 11, 2017, Blog for more detail.]

         I got one really nice chicon and then open growth, not forming chicons, from the other roots.  I did wait, but looks like they have all gone to feathery leaves instead of tight chicons.  The timing was correct, I did have the big chicon for Christmas Eve, diced fine and used for the base of a lovely winter salad and it tasted great to me.  Today, I took the palest leaves of the feathery growth that did not make chicons and had those diced up in a salad.  Tasted good – so even if I did fail on getting full chicons  from all the roots, I did have a nice winter salad from my partial failure as well.

Upon further review of my previous research on this process, some feel that one MUST cover the top of the root with 4 to 5 inches of sand so that the weight of the sand will cause the chicons to become tight; whereas, other’s indicate just soil or sand up to the crown of the root is sufficient.

         The first run I put down on November 11^th, I sifted sand up to the top of the crowns.  This run, I will shift sand over the roots 4 to 5 inches to see if the results are better. Tight chicons is the objective.  This time I am filling the 15 inch waste basket with sand/soil mix not using pots.  I have taken my dibble and dug in 8 roots.  The wastebasket is now heavy and I haven’t even filled it to cover the crowns.  So, I decided to put the basket in the closet and I will carry the sand to it instead of throwing out my back trying to get an extremely heavy basket from mudroom to closet.  When I need to remove the spent Endive experiment – I will bring in the furniture dolly, and roll it out of the house.

[I’ve a bright idea, I might even go fetch that dolly now – before I fill it the rest of the way. Hopefully I can find it.]. . . [YIPEE . . . I found it!!]

         We have had bitter cold here and now my bag of sand is frozen solid.  I have it thawing out in the mudroom. When thawed, I will finish covering the roots, water them lightly, and cover them so that Experiment No. 2 is in the dark.  In a 21 days or more, I will let you know how they have turned out. 

This time, I will be taking pictures to memorialize my progress and share them with you. 



As a reminder to my gardening friends, January 1^st is the time to drill in sugar snap peas for an extra early crop. Check out my blog: January 1, 2017 – My New Year’s Tradition:  Planting peas – French Style

I challenge you even if you are not as far South as I am,

 you will have results.

December 28, 2017       After Christmas Sales

         I never was one for after Christmas sales.  However, I was on a mission yesterday to buy a new pair of shears [to cut cloth] and I did get my 40% discount at the store even though I am technically illiterate.  I can report I did find one store that is customer service oriented and I was successful after I drove 40 minutes to the store even though I didn’t get the hang of pulling up a coupon correctly on my new Smartphone. The cashier was most accommodating about my blunder and figured out a way to make it work.  That cashier earned my goodwill and I will return to that store more often because of her great customer service.

         I am jealous . . . I just got a new Smartphone and I am not SMART.  This is going to be a serious learning curve.  Eventually I am sure one of my shopping-savvy friends will show me how to get a coupon on my phone so that I can have it swiped at the store.  But, so far, I haven’t figured out how to do that.  I think a “hands on” lesson will be the only way.

         But, that is not what I had in mind in today’s blog.  Everyone I saw was out in droves looking for bargains.  Me, I have never gone in for after Christmas sales.  I’ve never found any Christmas cards on sale that have the right saying – usually all that is left are the ‘Happy Holidays’ and I want my cards to convey Merry Christmas.

         I am also particular about wrapping paper – I never see anything I like after Christmas.  At this stage in my life, I really don’t need any more ornaments; what I really need to do is pack up some of my ornaments and find them a good home for next Christmas.

         And, I am insulted by department stores that give you 10% off $39.99 sweaters on December 23^rd and then expect you to be delighted to buy the same sweaters for $7.99 on clearance on December 26^th.  Why would you buy anything at $35.99 when three days later the same item is now $7.99.  That simply rubs me the wrong way.  Doesn’t it rub you the wrong way?  And, I’ve heard of people saying they do all of their next year’s Christmas shopping the week after Christmas to get items at 20% of the original cost.

         But, here is my question.  Doesn’t anyone actually try to give gifts that (a) fit? (b) might be the right color or size (c) or something the person might like?  What happens if “Susy” gets one of those $7.99 sweaters and it doesn’t fit – she can’t take it back next year after Christmas, now can she?  Is this “bargain hunting” after Christmas sales fueling the popularity of “re-gifting” or shopping in thrift shops due to the unused and unworn items? 

         I find after Christmas shopping is lost on me unless you were given Christmas greenbacks and told – “Go out and find you a good bargain, or something I couldn’t find you, or something you want, or something you don’t actually need, but want anyway.”

         Me, I limit myself to “use-up-ables” or non-holiday gift items that I was too cheap to buy myself in season or can be put to good use in the next week.

         My frugal shopping included the following examples:

1.             a Phalaenopsis white orchid – half price.  This year we never saw a white cyclamen to buy, so when I saw this orchid sporting 7 blossoms and 5 buds in quality condition, I snapped it up at half price.  From experience, I know the orchid will bloom for weeks and feed my soul and help chase away the January cabin fever that I know will descend upon us.

2.             $2.49 Gingerbread cookie mix for .99 cents. A good deal. My Snowman cookie jar has been empty all Christmas Season; I need to fill his belly.  I know this little Christmas Elf will need cookies to sustain her while she takes down the Christmas decorations. Besides, I have more time now than before Christmas.  I can cut them into heart shapes instead of Gingerbread men and freeze most of them for Valentine’s day.

3.             A frozen seasonal entree item now on sale that I wanted to try, but was too cheap to pay full price.  If I like it when it is prepared, maybe next year, I’ll pay full price.

If you are the bargain hunter type, I hope you found wonderful finds that tickle you to your toes.  Me, I’m going to bake some cookies instead.

          

December 27, 2017       Patience  - Waiting without complaint

         I had more than a few opportunities to wait without complaint, or be patient in my Christmas shopping.  And, on two separate occasions the same incident happened, almost word for word.

         A young woman coming off shift in a grocery store, still in uniform from the morning shift, is checking out in front of me in the grocery line.  She is rushing, she is short of money and now has to put some things back and she looks up in her frazzled life and apologizes to me.

         “I am so sorry, I am holding up the line.”  She says, as she is figuring out what to do next, take this or that out of the grocery group to reduce the bill in order to be able to pay.

         Me, I’m basically daydreaming and casually watching all her actions as she pulled some things obviously meant for her children and had them removed from her grocery bill.  Next, she looked at her watch and out loud mentioned to no one in particular – maybe to herself or her guardian angel,

         “Oh, I am going to be late to my second job.”

         The cashier is a friend as well as a co-work of hers and tells her she will have plenty of time. 

         Now, the young woman is packing her own groceries to hurry things up and she drops something that falls on the floor and rolls and the cashier and her scramble to get it.

         “I am so sorry I am taking so long.”  She looked up at me.

         I was calm, patient, not perturbed. I had great empathy for this gal – this mom trying to be “superwoman” and doing it all.

         “Not a problem. I’ve all the time in the world, I’m retired now.”  I smiled at her.

         Just then the cashier said,

         “That’s the 4^th of 5^th time I’ve heard that in the last few days – I can’t wait for retirement – It must be great.”

         I smiled and nodded. I turned to see who was behind me to see if they were impatient and as soon as I made eye contact with the man and his wife, he said,

         “We are retired too, we’ve lots of time,” He called past me to the young woman packing her groceries.

         “Oh, you are all so nice.”  She said as she finally got her last bit of groceries in a bag and into her cart.

         It was my turn being cashed out now and I turned and smiled at the couple behind me.  This time the wife spoke.

         “Yes, retirement is wonderful, we don’t have to rush anywhere, we can go grocery shopping in the middle of the day, avoid the traffic.”

         “It has its advantages, doesn’t it?”  I concluded with a smile.

         “Yes, it does,” Sounded the man.

         A couple of days later, I was in a discount chain store and a Mom and Dad and three kids in tow were at the checkout.  I chose this line because there were only two in front of me compared to the 4 to 6 in other lines.  Their shopping cart was overflowing, the kids were getting restless and Dad was calling them down.

         Halfway through the checkout something didn’t seem to have a price on it.  I thought everything had a UPC code on it these days – but the cashier called his supervisor.

         The Mom turned to me and said,

         “I am so sorry for the delay.”

         “Not to worry, I am retired, now.” I said, and after I said it, I had a déjá vu moment and I realized I’d said the same thing a few days earlier.  I turned to see who was behind me and a white-haired lady smiled and said,

         “Don’t worry, I am retired too, take all the time you need.”  She leaned forward so that the Mom in front of me could see and hear her.

         The Mom’s face brightened and at that moment, she had to rein in one of her children.

         So, I found patience was abounding this Christmas season.  I hope you did too. Maybe more people recalled their Christian virtues because more people were calling out the Non-PC phrase Merry Christmas and actually meant what they were saying.

         

December 26, 2017 – Lobster Newburg Vol Au Vents - Recipe

         Few days ago, I talked about the crystal bride’s basket that my Mom had filled with white fresh flowers for my wedding buffet table.  I was thinking about the food that was served that day and it was Seafood Newburg.  [My Grandmother Nixon’s recipe.]

         Christmas has always been a fun time for me in the kitchen and when opening gifts.  Mom would always call in August and ask what I might like for my birthday.  I would give her several ideas.  If something didn’t materialize for my birthday in September, it was probably hard to find or on back order and would show up at Christmas time. My Mom was a big catalog shopper. [So am I].  Often I would mention something for the kitchen.  

         Many of my friends know I also have a love affair with “heart shaped” things.  My Mom knew this  as well and would find something that was heart shaped as well as for cooking.

         I happen to own a Heart shaped Vol Au Vent cutter only because my Mom found it during one of her Senior Citizens shopping trips somewhere, or she ordered it out of a fancy chef’s catalog.

         Traditionally, I now make a Vol Au Vent of some sort for Christmas.  What is nice about a Vol Au Vent is you can use it for a dessert or an entrée.  You make them ahead and then you fill them.  I call that easy cooking that looks “top shelf” and classy.

         Last year I made “Chicken and mushrooms in sherry cream sauce” Vol Au Vents and I had an impromptu guest who was impressed. But, what she didn’t know – that was simple cooking.

         This year, I decided on Lobster Newburg Vol Au Vents using my Grandmother’s recipe with a nice winter salad on the side and.

Seafood Newburg

Serves 12

Again, it is all in the sauce – you can decide how much of each type of fish you want to use.  I will impart the recipe as written out for me.

1       Cup crabmeat flaked

1       Cup scallops [parboiled 5 minutes]

1       Cup cleaned cooked shrimp or lobster

1       Cup haddock, skinned and boned

1       Cup salmon or tuna

1       cup sliced sautéed mushrooms

1       small jar pimento

½      cup butter

6       Tablespoons Flour

3 ½   cups rich milk

1       cup light cream

3       egg yolks

¼      cup sherry

Prepare seafood and set aside. Cut into bite sized pieces – set aside

Sautee mushrooms in 2 Tablespoons butter.

Prepare cream sauce by melting 2 Tablespoons butter in a heavy pan or large double boiler.  Blend in flour, stir in milk and cream and cook until smooth and thickened.  Season to taste with salt and pepper and then add the seafood, pimentos, and mushrooms.

As the seafood is already cooked, you are just bringing the Newburg up to a medium-hot temperature [do not allow to boil].  Just before serving, add the slightly beaten egg yolks and sherry, and stir well.

Serve on toast or patty shells or Vol Au Vents.  Serves 12

ENJOY

December 25, 2017       Baked Stuffed Shrimp – Recipe

         Holidays equal food – most of the time.  We are no different.  I like to make something special for us for Christmas Eve after Mass and something else for late Christmas Day afternoon/evening meal.  No, we don’t have a bunch of friends and family in for Christmas.  All these years I have been like a guard dog about our “alone time” for Christmas weekend and I like it that way.  It makes cooking easier on me and we get to spend quality time.

         Today I will share a recipe with you that I had to dust off – haven’t used it in years.  As a new bride, living in New England I begged and mooched this recipe from Mrs. Paul McCumber, a fabulous cook.

         Once I got the recipe, I shared it with my Mom and she made it often, but she changed it up using the crumb stuffing for haddock or split lobster tails. It smells wonderful while it is cooking – that is the sherry.

         Me, I was too cheap this week to buy both the shrimp and scallops, so I will be replacing the scallops with quartered and sautéed mushrooms.  I advise you don’t skimp on the sherry – that is what makes this dish.

Baked Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp

Plan on 3 to 4 Jumbo Shrimp per person [for Entrée]

Less for appetizers

The following is the crumb mixture that you spoon on top of the shrimp you have peeled, deveined and butterflied.  I set them out in a nice design in a shallow casserole dish for a group or individual casserole dishes for entrée.

I cut the crumb recipe down to size for the number of guests I am having.  This makes enough for a party.  A wonderful make ahead dish that you cook when your guests arrive.

2       Cups seasons bread crumbs

1       Cup unflavored bread crumbs

2       Cups Ritz cracker crumbs

Mix together dry ingredients

1       Pint fresh scallops diced

½      pound butter

2       cloves garlic diced fine

1       Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

½      cup sweet sherry or Sweet Vermouth – possibly more depending on the dryness of the crackers and crumbs

Salt and pepper to taste

Cut garlic fine and sauté with butter and scallops until opaque.  Add Worcestershire sauce, sherry, salt and pepper.  Let cool.

Add dry ingredients – mix and refrigerate until slightly stiff.

Put a heaping Tablespoon of stuffing on each shrimp. Just before baking, brush each with melted butter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes [A bit more for pieces of haddock or lobster tails.]

Serve with Lemon Wedges

Bon Appetite!

Merry Christmas everyone.

         

December 24, 2017       Christmas Eggnog

         “What the heck,” I said out loud as I grabbed the eggnog out of the grocery cooler.  Other shoppers stopped to look at me and I smiled saying,

“What’s a few pounds over Christmas.”

It has been years since I had brandy laced eggnog because it would pack the pounds on.  I didn’t glance back, but I hoped all the bystanders were throwing caution to the wind and grabbing their calorie laden eggnog as well.

         The brandy was at home, as I had just imported it from Massachusetts last October when I cleaned out my Mom’s house.  The lower cabinet right of the kitchen sink was a skinny cabinet designed to hold cookie sheets and trays in the back and a square box in the front which held liquor bottles.

         Up at the front was the Christian Brother’s Brandy I’d purchased in December, 2010, when I flew home the first Christmas season after my Dad had died to check on my Mom’s well-being.  After grocery shopping the first day I swung into the liquor store asking Mom,

         “How about a bit of brandy to go with our eggnog?”

         “Sounds good,”  Mom smiled.

         Every night, as sort of a ritual we had a small brandy laced eggnog to chase the chill away after dinner.  I’d pour it under Mom’s guidance, she only wanted a bit of brandy.  I’d stir it with a flourish and then give the top a dust of nutmeg and carry our glasses into the living room.      

         We thought we were being so naughty – but the bottle hardly showed that we tapped it.

         When I ran up on it the day of cleaning, I lifted it up to check the level and smiled about our eggnogs.  I stuck the almost full bottle of brandy in my suitcase and got back to cleaning.  The almost full bottle would go home with me stashed in the trunk of the car.  Oh, yeah, I know all about the ‘can’t take open liquor bottles across state lines’ caution.  And, I wouldn’t be breaking just one state law, I had several states to travel through before I got back to North Carolina.

         When I got home, I splashed brandy in pork roasts and beef stew and even splashed some in home-made onion soup.  I actually made myself a couple of brandy Manhattans near Thanksgiving.  So, the level has been  slowly dropping.

         Tonight I had an impromptu dinner guest and I offered her an after dinner brandy eggnog.  Oh, that got a big smile.

         “Sounds great!”

         As I made it, same way, stirring the brandy with a flourish into the eggnog and dusting it with the nutmeg, I told her how old the bottle was – vintage 2010, and I relayed the story of how I had flown home to check on Mom six months after Daddy had died.  I called it the “welfare” check.  And, then couple months ago, I’d found the almost full bottle when cleaning out her house and brought it home.

         My guest had lost her Mom in the last few years and we clinked glasses as she called out a special toast.

         The brandy bottle is getting low now Mom, but the memory of our after dinner brandy eggnogs is as clear as ever.

Merry Christmas, Mom, I miss you.

         

December  23, 2017 – Newspaper boy?    

When you are out of a job – you just take any job . . .

         That is what happened about 1998 or 1999.  My husband found himself suddenly out of a job.  It was a shock to both of us.  While he made the rounds of trying to find work in his field and out of his field, he entertained any possible job that was available.  After dozens of interviews and cold-calls, things were looking pretty dismal.

         Unemployment had run out and I was working a modest job – enough to pay most of the bills and suck our modest savings down with mortgage payments.

         One day my husband said, “I’ve got a little job – hopefully it will give us some cash flow while I am looking.”

         “Yeah?”  I asked, as I am cooking dinner.

         “Newspaper delivery.” He stated flatly.

         I looked up surprised.  He told me more,

         “I was hired today and the current delivery guy drove me around the route in the daylight.  Tonight he will be showing me how he picks up the papers and takes me on his route.  He says after a couple of days I should have the route memorized.”

         I thought, well, someone has to deliver the newspaper.  We had it delivered to our house for years.  If people are doing this, there must be some “cash flow.”  I served dinner and he said,

         “I can’t eat much, I’ve got to get some sleep.  I’ve got to meet him at 11:30 p.m. where they drop off the papers.”

         “Where is that?”

         “At the corner of Broadway and Main Street in Forest City – used to be an old gas station.  The truck comes in from the printers and drops off the newspaper bundles.”

         I ate my dinner in silence.  He’d found a job at something, at last.  He’d worked night shifts before when he was younger.  He went off to bed and I tried my best to clean up the kitchen quietly and keep the TV low but ended up going to bed early so that I wouldn’t disturb his sleep.

         Of course, when he was up and around getting dressed, he woke me up and I heard him leave and drive up the road.  I laid there in the dark wondering how long he would be gone.

         Sometime after 2:30 a.m. he came home and made enough noise to wake me.  He didn’t say much just peeled out of his clothes and flopped in the bed.

         This continued for three nights, the third night being the Saturday delivery of the Sunday paper.  He came in later that night – err – actually morning.  So far these wake ups in the middle of the night had me off center and grouchy, but wait, it gets better.

         I arrive home Monday night and he says, “We’ll have to take your car, mine is a shift drive, that won’t work stopping and starting at all the newspaper holders.”

         “We?”  I asked.

         “It will be fun.  You can fold the papers and shove them in the slots and I will drive.  It will be quality “together time” for us. . . .” was his sales pitch.

         I am surprised I didn’t bitch outright, but somehow grace fell upon me and I fell in line. 

         “You’ll need to dress in layers, we’ll drive with the windows open.”

         I dug out sweat pants, long johns, a big sweatshirt, flannel shirt and a cotton undershirt, wool boot socks, and rain boots.  I scrounged around for a pair of old gloves.  I laid them all out on a chair and we turned in early.

         The alarm clock roused us.  I dragged on my clothes and out we went in the pitch dark, starless night. It was typical raw, damp, cold January weather.  Arriving at the newspaper delivery location the bundles of papers had just been delivered, and we met the other delivery people.  He introduced me around and they gave us some tips – all sort of nice folks.

         I was co-pilot and I had most of the papers on my lap in the passenger seat and I would fold them, and stuff them in the newspaper holders when he stopped, then we would go on. 

         We were midway through our route when we had to pull over near a manufacturing facility entrance.  I jumped out my car door and opened the back door to get the rest of the papers to put in the seat between us.  Suddenly a Patrol Car blocks our car.  The police spot light shines right is my eyes blinding me as I stand clutching a newspaper bundle to my chest with my mouth wide open in surprise.

         “Oh, you’re just newspaper people – new on the route aren’t you?” The officer calls out from his car.

         “Yes sir.” I mumbled and nodded my head. 

         The spot light instantly went out and the patrol car moved on.

         “Where did they come from?”  My husband asked.

         “I don’t know – we must look like crooks or something.”

         “Second story robbers,” He said.  We laughed, then we chuckled the rest of the route. 

“Our first run and we are stopped by the cops.”

         That first night it took us about 3 ½ hours.  We got home about 3:00 a.m. and I flopped in bed.  In a few weeks, we got the time down to 2 or 2 ½ hours a night. [Trust me, we put in our notice to quit in about a month – the money wasn’t there, but we were under contract for 90 days and had to work that out and train a replacement.]

         We can at least say, “It was an unforgettable experience.”

         Years later, we occasionally, mention the time we delivered newspapers and my husband always says, “second story robbers,” with a chuckle and I say, “Cash flow? It barely covered buying new breaks and paying for the extra gas we used.”  

         SO, Please tip your newspaper delivery person this Christmas – they go through snow, rain, heat, and gloom of night to deliver your news – I should know, I’ve been there, and done that!