Valentines to Go

Valentine prep began two days ahead. I prepared yeast dough that rose in the refrigerator overnight. I baked one set of strawberry rolls, washed the heart-shaped baking dishes, and baked another set so that all were ready by the afternoon of the 13^th. The most difficult part was finding the neighbors at home to deliver them.

021318 Valentines ready to go.JPG

We wanted something special for neighbor Logan (7), something not edible. I picked out the mug decorated with hearts. Inside the red tissue paper was John’s choice – a black truck with a friction motor. I don’t know what happened to the mug, but Logan played with the truck the whole time we were chatting with his parents.

Do you ever give things away without tasting them? We had a rather late breakfast on Valentine’s Day, as we do most days. I assumed the rolls were edible. The thought just struck me that if the neighbors had been sickened, they could have been on the way to the hospital before I suspected anything was wrong. If you are really good at worrying, you can worry in reverse like I do.

John surprised me with a balloon and chocolates. He ran errands with our son the day before and hid the gifts in the garage. They were in the kitchen long before I went in to get breakfast ready. We had one bought donut each and a strawberry roll.

021418 Valentine breakfast table.JPG

I apologized to John for not having bought him anything, and he said, “You did buy me something.”

My open-book face showed perplexity. “I bought you something?”

“Yes,” he said, “at the supermarket. When I commented on liking chocolate-covered raisins as a child, you threw the pack in the cart.”

And they say men are oblivious!!!

“…and the Creek don’t Rise”

Most Americans know the caveat about promising to do something “good Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise”. Well, the creek did rise here! In fact, it’s the highest we’ve ever seen it. We’ve had rain off and on for days and happened to be at the creek shortly after a pause.

021118 Jonathan Creek after rain.jpg

I can assure you, we would not be standing beside the creek if it flooded. Theoretically, that is the lowest part of the valley. If the water flowed over the banks, much of the land would be covered. The creek was quite muddy, but the roar was muted. It makes more sound if rocks are protruding above the water. The two tiny streams near our house made an inordinate amount of noise due to the increased volume of water. That’s when I wish we lived beside them. If I get desperate enough, I’ll play a CD of a mountain stream.

Exuberance!

We hit it right and walked at rush hour in the ‘hood today. About six people were heading for work, and then there was the school run – Bob driving Logan (7) to the stop sign where he catches the school bus. Logan waited until we were almost to the car and seemed to be running before the door was fully open. How can one small body hold such extreme energy? As John chatted with Bob, I watched the boy run for the sheer joy of it. He jumped the ditch over and over, finally landing in the middle of it.

“Your shoes would be wet if water had been there,” I said.

Logan replied with a grin, “Nope! I waterproofed my shoes.”

As usual, I understood about 30% of what he said. Unbeknownst to me, the subject changed when he spoke of “lava shoes” three jumps later. “Firemen have clothes and shoes that won’t catch fire.”

“Do you want to be a fireman?” I asked.

Logan replied firmly, “No. I want to work at McDonald’s.”

I was sorry to see the bus chugging up the hill, because I was dying to ask WHAT he wanted to do there. Can you imagine him about twelve years from now? He’s the assistant manager, in three places at once, and putting out figurative fires at 70 miles per hour. McDonald’s will never be the same again.

Wardrobe Malfunction

When daughter Lise was here at Thanksgiving, we bought look-alike tops. They were made of extremely soft polyester, rather fuzzy and quite warm. Since it wasn’t particularly cold at the time, I don’t think she wore hers here. I wore mine a week or so ago and noticed that it had a tendency to creep upwards. I pulled at it all day long. Thinking it would have been cured in the washing machine, I put it on again this morning before walking. Whoa! Big mistake! After chatting with neighbor Marla at the quarter point of my walk, I realized the top had decided to slither up. There were two other layers on top – a sweater and a windbreaker. How bad could it get? I trotted off downhill to the stream. I should realize by now that when I ask myself a question, I should wait for a considered opinion.

The top was bunching up as I passed the cafe. I was acutely aware that neighbors Shawn and Bob might be inside having breakfast. They spoke to me as they passed in their vehicles, and they turned into the cafe parking lot. I hoped they were in the hardware area instead of the cafe if my top was going to embarrass me. Shame would be bad enough before strangers, but please! not dear neighbors! I would have given anything to pull that top down, because I was beginning to feel like the Michelin Man, with lumpy spare tires gathering momentum around my middle.

Years ago one could feel safe pulling at clothes when no one was looking. Now? There could be hidden security cameras recording your every move. I crossed the highway and passed the fire station. Two men and a woman were examining a pickup truck in the parking lot, possibly considering a purchase. Surely the hefty truck would hold their interest while I walked by.

As I huffed and puffed up the steep hill, I longed to take off the windbreaker. Air! Air! In front of Marla’s house, off came the windbreaker. The top had bunched up and was trying to wave at all the cars from the neck of the sweatshirt. I reasoned that as long as I kept my arms down, the slithery top could not possibly creep over my head. When not picking my way through two icy patches, I let my hands check the hem of the sweatshirt from time to time. Thank heavens it seemed firmly anchored to the jeans, well below the danger line. Our front door never looked so inviting! I rushed through it and sagged with relief that I had made it home without exposing more than hand and facial skin.

Would you agree that worry alone should have burned more calories than usual?