A lot of my recent writing has been on themes relating to food. We need food. What I also need are some replacements for old cookie sheets. They are so perfect upon purchase but then tarnish with time and it is a challenge to get the cookie remnants to disappear. Time for new and also some cake pans. All of these implements are on the kitchen counter because of Christmas. I just delivered more cookies to a neighbor who is moving their mom into another care facility. I noticed them heaving large things into a truck. They looked like they could use a cookie or two – especially with a group. At least the weather is good. A single word can put me thinking. Replacements is one of those words today.
I purchased a fairly new but used car over a year ago. I hope I will not need another because of the cost. How do you time the need for a car with when you will no longer need to drive? The car is replaced and I hope to be done with that. How long do cookie sheets last? Depends on how many neighbors need a sweet surprise. I’ve decided to pull the plug on the old ones. I’d like to break even on those too. As I glanced at what my friends were placing in the truck I realize, again, that mom does not need much. It is one room in a care facility. Eventually all of our rooms of the stuff we have accumulated, because we like our stuff, will be condensed to one room.
One thing that cannot be replaced is you. Downsize thoughtfully and spend more time with people than with the stuff we can’t keep anyway. Bake cookies to freeze for a future neighbor who might need a lift on a hard day. That’s all I’ve got today…downsize, call more people, send more cards, and bake.