A Planner’s Gotta Plan!

by Cynthia, posted in Taking Care of Business

I have always been a planner. While I would like to be much more spontaneous, I find solace in the little bit of control I get by planning ahead. Not that things always work out exactly as planned, but at least I have a sense of where I am heading. One such planning activity is menus.

As a young professional and single mother, time was not abundant. Once a month I would sit down and plan what we would eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the month. Often, I used cookbooks as I wanted to ensure I was providing healthy, nutritious, tasty meals for my daughter while taking full advantage of all the groceries I purchased. At that time I would buy large packages of individually frozen chicken breasts, which saved time and money.

Developing the practice of menu planning at a young age served me well. I learned to be creative in my cooking, not wanting to waste any food. Fast forward to today and I still want to use everything I purchase.  The old wives’ saying “Waste Not, Want Not” holds true as grocery prices continue to rise.  Of course this only works if one actually cooks. Which I do.

When planning a menu, I peruse one or two cookbooks. I have so many that it becomes too confusing to use several at a time. While jotting down lunch and dinner ideas, I note ingredients I will need to pick up at the grocery store. I use an app on my phone called “To Do” which is free from Microsoft.  It is actually a list-making app, but I use it mainly for my grocery needs. When I open the last of something I use often (mayonnaise, for example) I immediately add it to my grocery list. Otherwise I won’t remember when heading to the store. I don’t like to run out of necessities.

The whole point of menu planning is not to be rigid. I always have standbys such as stir-fries on rice or quinoa, vegetable soup, enchiladas of all kinds, and pasta. But I like variety, too. When it’s time for dinner, I look at my menu for the week/month and select the dish that calls to me, knowing all the ingredients are on hand.

The bonus of menu planning is taking the list to the grocery store.  I stick to my list, for the most part, and avoid picking up items that then go bad before I figure out how or when to use them.

After dinner if there is enough left over, I carefully prepare it for the freezer. In that way, I have food prepared when I am not in the mood to cook. Therefore, I often shop my freezer while menu planning, too!

Planning ahead takes the question out of what’s for dinner. And having all the components on hand makes for smooth sailing … er, a … easy cooking.

Chief Inspector Gamache

by Cynthia, posted in Reviews

I was first introduced to Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache of the Surêté du Québec a couple of years ago when my book club read The Madness of Crowds.  A different kind of murder mystery, the story was set in the Canadian town of Three Pines.  The Chief Inspector is knowledgeable while kind and caring. He sees what others do not. He reasons, never jumping to unfounded conclusions.

I learned at that time that Penny had written a series with the characters Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, his second-in-command Jean-Guy Beauvoir, and another trusted team member Inspector Isabelle Lacoste. Residents of Three Pines were introduced in the first book and continue to be characters in subsequent books.

A few weeks ago one of the ladies in my book club suggested reading The Grey Wolf, a new book by Louise Penny. I did not have a clue what it was about but trusted my new friend’s opinion, so I picked up the book after our meeting at our local Barnes and Noble. I was delighted when I started reading and found familiar “friends” on the pages. Upon finishing the book, I decided to start reading the series from the beginning.

I hadn’t yet acted on the decision to read the entire series. However, I made it to a hotel without a book. Luckily, a lovely outdoor mall was nearby, and I noticed a Barnes and Noble there. This would be the perfect time to dig in from the beginning! So I went to inquire about the first book in the series.  That night I began reading the book. (I read in bed; it helps me relax and fall asleep easier). Within two days I had read the entire book, Still Life. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  While a murder mystery, it is “light” reading. The characters are inimitable and engaging, each with his or her unique personality.

On the Gamache Series website, Louise Penny writes: “These books are murder mysteries, but they’re not about murder. They’re about love and belonging, about loyalty and choices. And the courage to be good.” I think this is much of the reason I enjoy the books.

Penny is a good writer. The stories are easy to read. I find it fascinating to read the clues along with the investigative team and try to figure out who the culprit was.  While each book can be read stand alone, I am enjoying solving murder mysteries along with Chief Inspector Gamache and his team … and the people of Three Pines.

I encourage you to check out Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache / Three Pines books if you enjoy catching clues and solving puzzles. And following the lives of quirky individuals whom you begin to include in your list of friends.

Bento Boxes

by sssmahh303, posted in Lifestyle

Mary Ann

I recently read an article that a good way to eat lunch was to graze by making a plate of a few vegetables, fruits, some protein, a few carbs, and a treat.  I would often do this not realizing I was grazing, so I started to think of ways of making this easy, interesting, and healthy. 

Other countries graze in their own unique ways such as smorgasbords or tapas.  In the United States, we supersize foods which end up supersizing us.  So, I set out thinking about how I could incorporate grazing into my life in an orderly fashion. It came to me that Bento Boxes might be a good direction to go.

I ordered a set of five Bento Boxes from Amazon that were dishwasher safe and made of all the safe plastic materials.  You can get boxes that have various size sections. I thought I could make the boxes up on the weekend and have lunch prepared for the next 5 days.  Of course, I would have to shop for food first and have everything ready to go on Sunday.  These are some of the ideas that I found that worked and a few lessons learned about grub that didn’t.  I am still developing menus as I go along.  

The Bento Boxes I used each have five individual sections.   I tried to use one for fruit, one for vegetables, one for proteins, one for nuts and seeds, and one for carbs. These are some of the ideas for the lunches.

Fruits– grapes, cherries, melons (fresh), apples (pre-sliced packs), clementines, kiwis, berries, and bananas (cut to fit the section; the end will turn brown, and you will need to cut it off before you eat).  You could buy a precut fruit tray that offers pineapples and melons to make the prep even easier.  Small containers can be included that might have peanut butter or cream cheese to enhance the fruits.  Another possibility is using dried fruits. 

Vegetables – carrots, celery, raw cauliflower, raw broccoli, peppers, and raw asparagus and beans, and snap peas.  Again, precut vegetable trays would cut prep time. You may have noticed that I didn’t include cucumber.  I found that they are fine early in the week but get soggy as the week progresses.  You can find small containers to put a dip in such as Ranch Dressing. 

Nuts and Seeds – cashews, almonds, pistachios, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds.  I mixed them altogether and used a quarter cup measuring cup to put into one of the sections.  I used the nuts each day.  

Proteins – One of our area groceries stores makes chicken, egg, and tuna salads in small containers that make a perfect and tasty portion for a section.  You, of course, could make your own.  This, however, makes it easy.  You could roll a piece of ham and a piece of cheese around a sweet pickle for sandwich without bread.   This is a perfect place to use a hard-boiled egg.  These can be purchased already cooked and peeled – easy!  Other  possibilities – there are little brie cheese bites from Supreme and Babybel cheese rounds that are both tasty with crackers.  

Carbs –Any seedy, whole grainy crackers (Crunchmaster or Raincoast Crisps by Lesley Stowe) or even a few chips for a treat.  The crackers are great to have with your protein.  

Once the boxes are assembled, put them in the refrigerator ready to be eaten each day of the week.  You are done fixing lunches for the week in a relatively short period of time.  If you are working, your lunch box is ready to go.  Bento Boxes easily go in the dishwasher once you are done eating.  I did find that it was almost too much food.  However, that is a good thing because you have your afternoon snack already to go.  You can graze away your day! 

I am sure you will have some great ideas of your own.  As I said, I am still learning, but as you apply the things you do learn, the easier it gets. There is always room for exploring new ideas and adding tasty items to your menus.  Bon Appetit!    

Thank You!

by Cynthia, posted in Friends and Family

Why is taking compliments so hard? Do we really not appreciate when someone notices how we look, something we have done, a gesture, etc.?  For many years I found myself downplaying a kind remark from others.

“That dress looks great on you!” “Oh this old thing? I have had it for years”

“You are a wonderful hostess.” “It was no trouble; I just took the easy way out.”

“Your hair looks lovely.” “I just had it styled. It won’t look like this when I do it myself.”

“I enjoy your blog.” “We are still learning how to navigate the site.”

You get the picture. We make excuses, unable to imagine there is anything worth complimenting. Or are we attempting to be humble?

Several years ago I complimented a friend who retorted “I just can’t seem to get things right.” It hit me.  Was she discounting my observation? Was my opinion not worthy of her respect? Did she not feel worthy of being noticed? I began to understand that the correct response is a simple Thank You.

Cynthia Ozick stated “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”

If a simple thank you is difficult, there are numerous ways to thank a person. Thank them for being in your corner, always lifting you up. Say “I appreciate that” or “You are very kind to say that.” Even “You just made my day!”

For less formal interactions, “thanks” may be appropriate among friends, family, and familiar co-workers. Thank you, is more formal and may better express sincerity. You will know the situation for yourself and the person from whom you receive the compliment.

Regardless, it is important to accept praise graciously – to treat compliments as the gift they are. Be genuine in your response, maintain eye contact, smile, and never, never downplay the compliment.  In short, be grateful and kind to others.

Finally, I just want to say, “thank you for taking the time to read our blogs. We appreciate you!”

Always Wear Perfume

by sssmahh303, posted in Wellness

Mary Ann

Do you remember when the Avon lady would come to your home?  Talk about customer service – beauty products at your doorsteps.  As a youngster, I loved the visits because I got to try all the new perfumes, and if I were lucky, I was given a sample or two. The tiny lipsticks were so cute.  

Then as I got older, along came Avon’s Daisies Won’t Tell.  It was a women’s cologne that had a perfume version for girls or something like that.  At last, I had my very first perfume.  I was hooked on good smelling things, and there is an actual term for that – CognaScenti is a person who has a passion for perfume. 

Daisies Won’t Tell lasted into teens and by that time I started to wear Rapture from Avon that came in a beautiful green bottle.  I thought I was so sophisticated.  By the time I got to college I was wearing Ciara and Charlie from Revlon.  These were the perfumes I took into my young adult life and wore until I was introduced to luxury perfumes.  For a time, I wore La Panthère de Cartier and Casmir from Chopard- pricey but oh, so lovely. Sometimes it was hard to find them.  This was prior to online ordering.   

Then into my middle years, I used Calvin Klein’s Obsession and most recently, I began wearing CK’s Euphoria.  All the perfumes that I have used over years are florals with exotic hints of patchouli or sandalwood or vanilla.  I guess that is why I am attracted to those fragrances.  They all have these common elements 

 I would say that Euphoria is my signature scent.  It is a fragrance that I love to smell, and I always get compliments from both men and women when I wear it. Little children always tell me that I smelled good – budding CognaScentis. The Calvin Klein Company says Euphoria has stood the test of time, and it is for all ages.  This long-lasting perfume made from high quality materials remains a world-wide favorite.  I guess I will be wearing it to my final days.

Coco Chanel has a famous quote about perfume, “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.”  She emphasized that perfume is an essential part of a women’s personal expression.  It is a way that women can leave a powerful lasting impression, so you should always wear perfume even if you are home in your sweats.  You never know who will knock on your door, and a lovely perfume can make you unforgettable!  Hoping this blog reminded you of your own perfume journey. We are all CognaScentis at heart!

Perfume Gallery

First Row (L to R) Daisies Won’t Tell, Rapture; Second Row (L to R)) Ciara, Obsession; Charlie; Third Row (L to R) Euphoria, La Panthere de Cartier, Casmir

Fairy Godmothers 

by sssmahh303, posted in Taking Care of Business

Mary Ann

When you think of Fairy Godmothers, you think of pumpkins turning into carriages, white mice turning into horses, and rags turning into ball gowns with the swipe of magic wand.  Those Fairy Godmothers do not exist except in fairy tales.  However, there are real-life Fairy Godmothers just waiting to be found in our lives.

My Fairy Godmother is Mimi.  She is 11 years older than I am.  She is my wise women who I turn to when I have a problem or need some advice about life.  She has helped with health issues like menopause questions or issues I may be having with my children.  She always has some gentle words to guide me, always encouraging and inspiring.  We are friends who share books to read, recipes to cook or bake, or souvenirs from travels.  Mimi is a lady who I look up to and just knowing she is there for me brings peace to my soul.  Her presence is an anchor in my life even though we live a half a country apart. I just hope she know that I treasure her.

I think each of us need to become Fairy Godmothers to younger women in our lives.  They need to have women who they can turn to when life gets challenging.  It is so easy to become isolated today that one thinks that you are the only one having a particular problem.  In years pass, women would talk over their backyard fences to a neighbor to get that sisterly advice about life.  With families living all over the country and even the world, you may not have a mother or an aunt living nearby, so younger women need to find Fairy Godmothers currently in their lives. A problem shared is a problem halved as the old saying goes.  Those relationships with intergenerational women can last a lifetime and enrich both of the parties.  Each of the younger women should in turn become the Fairy Godmothers of the future. The experiences are almost as good as a pumpkin becoming a carriage. There is magic in those special relationships! Put some abracadabra in your life!  

Seed to Plate; Soil to Sky

by Cynthia, posted in Reviews

With more than one hundred cookbooks on my bookshelf, one would think I don’t need another. Yet after a trip to the great southwest my cousin was compelled to provide me with one we had seen in Taos. Seed to Plate; Soil to Sky by Lois Ellen Frank contains modern plant-based recipes using Native American ingredients. Chef Walter Whitewater is the culinary adviser.

Linda, my cousin, and I have traveled together for over fifteen years. We consider ourselves foodies. Although she is not a vegetarian, she does appreciate vegetables, having grown up on a farm where her mother had an extensive garden. She is the one who selects where we eat when we travel. She studies menus, looking for those that have at least two options for me while also offering dishes that sound good to her. Over the years, I can’t think of more than one or two places that turned out to be less than delish.

One of the great things about living in America is the diversity of cuisine available due to the melting pot we are. Interestingly, many of the dishes we eat today come from other cultures. Although the cuisine is readily available in restaurants, the ingredients are available year-around in grocery stores.

Melissa K. Nelson of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa states “very few know and understand the Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and deep kinship relationships that Indigenous Peoples historically had and still have today for these ‘life sustainers’.” The cookbook serves not only as a source of recipes to use with The Magic Eight but offers insights into the use and development of these sustainable culinary sources.

“The Magic Eight were given to the world by Native Peoples of the Americas.” The book is divided into chapters, eight of which focus on one of the primary ingredients: corn, beans, squash, chile, tomato, potato, vanilla, and cacao.

You are probably thinking, you eat these ingredients frequently. Absolutely! You are probably also thinking “I don’t care for squash!” Yet what is better than a yummy pumpkin pie in the fall or a grilled zucchini with lemon herb dressing? Some ingredients are so familiar that we take them for granted. And that is a steppingstone for expanding our palates. Calabacitas, for example, is a traditional stir fry with roasted green chiles, zucchini, yellow summer squash, onion, and corn. Easy to make and yummy to eat. And you are eating squash!

When I first tried sweet potato and black beans I was shocked at the delightful mix of flavors. Now sweet potato and black bean tacos or enchiladas are “go-to’s” when I want a quick, nutritious meal. I always have tortillas on hand, but with this cookbook, I could make my own!

I could go on and on about the recipes in Seed to Plate; Soil to Sky. Some are easy. Some are a bit more challenging.  All the ones I have tried have been delicious.  I’m still making my way through the recipes.

Admittedly, mine rarely look as pristine as the gorgeous full color pictures of ingredients and finished dishes, but they aren’t bad.  If you are looking to better understand Native American culture while trying new week-night dishes, give this book a nod. I’m guessing you will be inspired!

ᎠᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᎲᏍᎬ (Happy Eating in Cherokee)!

Honoring Friends and Family

by Cynthia, posted in Lifestyle

Why is it that we fail to connect with old friends and extended family members until someone passes away? I have always thought it is more important to make time for others now, than to wait.

Several years ago I randomly thought of a gentleman who served as a mentor to many of us at the university. Even though on paper I outranked him, Terry was one of those people to whom you looked up. Respected. Listened carefully to what he had to say. He had retired a year or so previously and I had not spoken to him since that time.  I was busy, I would tell myself. One day I finally contacted the leadership in his department, asking if there might be an email address or phone number I could use to reach out.  I was informed that he had died just a few days before. I was upset with myself. I would never be able to tell him how much I learned from him and the impact he made.  I vowed at that time that whenever I think of a person, regardless of how random, I stop what I am doing and reach out, right then if possible. Or at least that same day.

In that vein I have made a point to occasionally contact people who have made a difference in my life – friends and family.

After losing my mother, I continue to contact her siblings – my aunts and uncles.  One such uncle was especially fun – always laughing. He had that big booming laugh that my maternal grandfather had. Full of life and love for his family, if I hadn’t reached out to him, he would call me. He spoke for only a couple of minutes. No long, drawn-out conversations were necessary. Just a quick call. One day not long ago I was in a meeting, so my phone went to voice mail.  His message went something like this: “Hey Cynthia. This is your uncle Campbell. I just wanted to let you know I haven’t forgotten you. I hope you haven’t forgotten me. Okay. Love you. Bye.”  It was such a cheerful, cute message I saved it.

Then a few weeks ago, I received a call saying that he was in the ICU, having had a car accident. He passed away about ten days later. The youngest of the five siblings, all in their 90s, he was the second to go in a year’s time.  We all gathered in Memphis to put him to final rest.

As a military veteran, a lovely, timed-to-the-minute ceremony, was held in the rotunda of the impressive Western Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. Bagpipes played. Army personnel tended his ashes and the U.S. flag which was presented to his wife. A 21-gun salute rang through the air. It was both beautiful and touching.

Later that day, a celebration of life dinner was held at his favorite bar-be-que restaurant. Having met with family the night before at my aunt and uncle’s home, and then at the hotel where we all stayed, we deepened our connections and heard stories from his friends. I ensured I had contact information for each cousin who attended and then created a group txt so we could easily stay in touch.

The eight-hour drive home was filled with conversation and ideas. Luckily, my sister had gone with me, so we were able to chat about the weekend. We even talked about our paternal side of the family and how we had all gathered at my brother’s celebration of life a year-and-a-half ago. Now that we are the “top generation” of our family, we are more aware of the time we have left and how we will spend it.

Once again, my thoughts turn to one of my affirmations. Live each day as if it were your last. It may be.

The Chicken Lamp

by sssmahh303, posted in Friends and Family

Mary Ann

My mother had a chicken lamp that was her pride and joy. She saved a $1.00 a week for 35 weeks to buy her coveted lamp.  Remember those days when you put items on layaway? That was a healthy price for the 50s. However, the lamp did not feel very mid-century.  It had a brown shade with a yellow ruffle, and it was a chicken.  It didn’t matter, she loved her lamp!

One day my mother was off to the store which was down the street from our house, and my little brother, Timmy, and I, were left home alone and were to take care of one another. This was a time when younger children were given much more freedom.  We were about 6 and 8 years old at the time.  At any rate, we were expected to behave and keep out of trouble.

Well, as soon as mother left to do her shopping, we, of course, began fighting and chasing one another around the house.  I believe that Timmy was chasing me, and he plowed into the chicken lamp knocking it over and breaking the head off.  (He may tell this differently.) OMG, the world was ending.  We were doomed.  Mother was going to kill us for a multitude of reasons; namely, her chicken lamp was broken, her precious chicken lamp.

So being the older, wiser child, I decided that we would not confess our sins.  So, we put the head back on the chicken and became the most well-behaved children occupying ourselves with Timmy playing with his farm set and me reading.   If mother discovered the damaged chicken lamp, we would deny everything.  This was the first time that brother and sister conspired to save their necks.  We were taking this to our graves.  

It is amazing that neither of us said anything.  I would have been in trouble for not supervising Timmy better, and he would have been in trouble for breaking the beloved lamp. So, time passed, and the head held.  Mother cleaned the lamp, and the head did not fall off. The head remained steady even during a move to our new house.  It is not fun waiting for a shoe to drop.  At any moment, our sins could be revealed.  

Time passed; years passed.  The chicken lamp remained on a revered spot in the living room on a round, maple table. The chicken head held firm to the point that we began to forget about it until one Sunday afternoon.  My father’s brother and family were visiting.  Their son, our cousin Gregory, walked over to the lamp, and he touched his finger to the tip of the chicken’s beak.   Plop, the head fell to the tabletop.  Timmy and I looked at one another across the room, and our eyes locked.  Gregory was going to be the one in trouble. He would take the fall, and neither one of us spoke up.  That moment sealed the bond between us.  This was going to the grave with us.  Gregory was just a little guy, so he wasn’t going to get in trouble for “breaking “the lamp.  He just touched it.  Everyone was sorry, and my mother ended up glueing the chicken head back on the chicken body.  All was well.  How did we ever get away with this? 

Now, for the backstory.  First, Greg if you are reading this, we are sorry we let you take the blame.  Timmy as a child was a naughty little boy, and we have many Timmy stories in our family that I will share in the future.  Timmy became a teacher and an outstanding school guidance counselor when he grew up. Never give up on a child. Redemption is always there.  

Apparently, not for me.  The Berenstain Bears have a story on honesty (The Berenstain Bears and The Truth) that is centered around the children breaking a lamp. The book was written 30 years after our crime. There must be a lot of children breaking lamps.  Those little bears confessed, but they didn’t have a Cousin Gregory to lay the blame.  We didn’t confess to our mother until we were in our 50s, and she was in her 70s. We figured it was safe to fess up! She wasn’t mad and had no idea that had happened.  We felt lighter and didn’t have to take the sin to our graves! 

Comedy Collection 

by sssmahh303, posted in Wellness

Mary Ann

The world seems grim right now!  Everywhere you look there doesn’t seem to be much joy. So, what do we do about that?  I think we need to bring more humor and laughter back into our lives.  You know the saying – Laughter is the Best Medicine?  Maybe the world needs a big dose of it now, but where do we begin? 

We could take a class in laughter.  There you try different kinds laughing such the queen wave while you walk around laughing or the Hawaiian laugh as you do the hula while you laugh.   There are endless possibilities of different kinds of laughter.  I took such a class, and you can’t help but laugh when everyone around is doing the hula and laughing.  The purpose is nonsense, and that nonsense makes you laugh.  However, laughter helps lower stress, alter moods, and helps the heart.  

There is laughing yoga which uses breathing exercises and laughing with no poses and laughter therapy which involves watching funny movies (there is a reason for Dumb and Dumber) or shows or reading humorous books.  When I need a smile or a chuckle, I think of certain TV shows that gave me a good belly laugh. They were so funny that I have never forgotten them.  

The first of my Comedy Collection was an episode of the Ellen DeGeneres’s comedy sitcom, Ellen – a comedy show way before The Ellen DeGeneres Show.  Ellen was enthralled by Martha Stewart.  She loved everything Martha Stewart, so she decide to create a Thanksgiving dinner, a perfect meal that Martha would admire. Of course, nothing went as planned.  Her oven broke so she tired cooking the turkey in the dryer.  You could see the poor bird flipping around through the glass door. The whole episode continued with disaster after disaster. Well, at the end, the guests came and among them was Martha Stewart herself – a happy ending with Ellen meeting her entertainment hero. 

The second in the Comedy Collection was from Sex and the City. Main character, Carrie, loved and I mean loved fashion.  Remember all the zany outfits?  Carrie is asked to model some clothes for New York City’s Fashion Week.  Her wildest dreams had come true.  So down the catwalk she struts trying hard to do the model walk, and at the end of the ramp, she falls for all of NYC fashionistas to see.  I literally fell off the couch laughing.  I still giggle when I think of the show.

An episode of Friends was the third in my Comedy Collection.  Ross and Rachel accidently locked their baby in their apartment and the window was slightly opened in the nursery. The two of them are in the hall imagining all the terrible things that could happen to the baby.  Now remember that the infant baby is in a crib and the window is only open a few inches.  However, they are sure the baby is going to fall out of the window and with each new imaginary scenario, they would freak out even more.  By the end they were sure a hawk would fly in the window and steal away the baby.  Remember this is New York City.  They finally get in, and the baby had napped away the hour they were panicking.  As parents, we have all been in similar situations imagining horrors happening to our sleeping babies or teenagers.

If I need to lift my spirits, I just think of those shows, and I find myself laughing.  I will end with a story of the funniest experience of my life.  It always makes me laugh.  When I lived in SC, I lived 10 minutes from a movie theater.  I could decide at the last moment to go to see a film.  On one Sunday afternoon, I decided to go see a movie.  I was going to just make the show, but I had to get popcorn and a drink.  I hurried in getting my ticket then my snacks.  The film was in the last theater in the complex.  I walked up to the entrance.  There was a door to left and one to the right.  I decided to go in the one on the right.  I entered and it was completely dark.  Had I walked into another world or maybe Narnia?  I started to reach out in the darkness and found the wall.  I tapped down the wall until I felt a broom handle.  OMG, I was in the broom closet.  I started laughing and continued tapping in search of the door.  Once I found the door handle and was ready to turn it, the door opened.  There stood a man with his popcorn and soda preparing to enter the theater.  He was surprised to see me as I was surprised to see him, and then I said, “It is the broom closet.”  At that point, we were both hysterically laughing with popcorn flying everywhere. We gained our composure after some repeated tries and eventually entered the other door.  He joined his date, and I found a seat still trying to stop laughing.  I often thought that this would have been a great way to meet your future husband, a great romcom beginning!

As I have written this blog, I have been laughing at my go-to Comedy Collection.  I hope this will inspire you to start your own collection.  I know you have some shows, movies, or books that make you grin. You are already on your way!  Our laughter can help the world find some joy and maybe not be so dark.