One day I had a date with friends for lunch. Mae, a little ole "blue hair" about 95 years old, came along with them......all in all, a pleasant bunch. When the menus were presented, we ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups except for Mae who said, "Ice Cream, please....two scoops chocolate.
I wasn't sure my ears heard me right, and the others were aghast. "Along with heated apple pie." Mae added, completely unabashed.
We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did this all the time, but when our orders were brought out, I didn't enjoy mine. I couldn't take my eyes off Mae as her pie a-la-mode went down. The other ladies showed dismay. They ate their lunches silently and frowned.
The next time I went out to eat, I called and invited Mae. I lunched on white meat tuna. She ordered a parfait..... I smiled. She asked if she amused me. I answered, "Yes, you do, but you also confuse me.
How come you order rich desserts, while I feel I must be sensible? She laughed and said, with wanton mirth, "I'm tasting all that is possible.
Mae told me, "I try to eat the food I need, and do the things I should....but life's so short, my friend, I hate missing out on something good. This year, I realized how old I was. (She grinned) I haven't told this before. So before I die, I've got to try those things that for years I ignored. I haven't smelled all the flowers yet.....There are too many books I haven't read. There's more fudge sundaes to wolf down and kites to be flown overhead."
She continued, "There are many malls I haven't shopped. I've not laughed at all the jokes. I've missed a lot of Broadway hits and potato chips and cokes. I want to wade again in water and feel the ocean spray on my face. I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God for His grace. I want p-nut butter every day spread on my morning toast. I want un-timed long distance calls to the folks I love the most. I haven't cried at all the movies yet, or walked in the morning rain. I need to feel wind in my hair. So, if I choose to have dessert instead of having dinner, then should I die before night falls, I'd say I died a winner, because I missed out on nothing. I filled my heart's desire. I had that final chocolate mousse before my life expired."
With that, I called the waitress over....I've changed my mind, " I said. "I want what she is having, only add some more whipped cream."
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Be mindful that happiness isn't based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people we love and respect. Remember that while money talks.....CHOCOLATE SINGS!!!!!!.
9 comments:
So true, so true. I could use some brownies and whipped cream right now. That sounds so good being the chocolate person that I am. lol.
This is so neat. I think I've have read something like this before, but this got me at a time when I'm trying to watch my blood sugar and I want pie and icecream, chocolate bonbons, valentine candy, Chocolate cake, - you get the picture!!
Grammyof13
This is great, Clara. And so true. For me, chocolate not only sings, but it calls my name. All the time. "Beth, come eat me now! Life is short---eat me, eat me!"
:-)
This reminds me of my favorite uncle.
He had lung cancer and we knew he was attending what would be his last family reunion so it was bitter-sweet. At one point, he bragged on my daughter's first attempt at making a dessert for the event - a chocolate cake with fudge icing and topped and surrounded by chocolate-covered strawberries. It was just a box cake and store-bought icing, but it was rich and good, I must admit.
Uncle Doogie called her over and hugged her to his side, bragging on her most delicious dessert. Then he said, "I believe that was my favorite thing to eat today. Promise me you'll make that every year. And when you have the chance to enjoy something as good as that, you have your dessert first!
Of course, she agreed with a smile on her face while the rest of us smiled while choking back tears - knowing he had just about quit eating at all, but had indeed eaten her chocolate cake.
And every year since, she has made "Uncle Doogie's Cake" to take to the reunion. And I have payed homage to him by always putting my dessert on my plate on the first pass through the food line at our reunions ever since.
--teresa in ky
Oh, Clara, You are so right! I believe in having fun when and where I can, enjoying the company of other people and never let a day go by without some kind of contact with good food, and thanking our Lord for all of it.
Love those brownies. Banana pudding is first tho.
Very wise words!! Chocolate sure does sing for me!!
Precious!! It reminds me of one day having lunch with my mother when she ordered ice cream besides her sandwich then began eating her ice cream first. I teased her saying, "mother you are not practicing what you preached to me all these years." She gave me a very serious look and said, "well at my age you never can tell. I want to make sure I get dessert."
She was in her late 70's then. I am in my early 70's now and already I understand how she felt.
Hi Clara, hope you all are well & staying warm.
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