Apple Blueberry Pie
As I was driving to a meeting this morning, I was reminded by a reporter on NPR that today is Pi Day… meaning that today’s date is 3/14. Now for some, that may be news. However, at least for the last 342 days, every one of them has been a “Pie” day for me.
Why pies? Because they are special… sort of a relic from a bygone era. Not many of us make pies anymore and making a pie for someone seemed to say, “you are special… and I appreciate you.” It is something that I felt I needed to do… to recognize the people that have made a difference in my life… or in the lives of my friends or neighbors. To take a moment to say thank you to someone each day was my goal… and it has been such a wonderful journey.
Today I chose to recognize the Ashland Police Department. When I was a kid, I lived in a “housing project” and we had two regular uniformed officers that patrolled our area. As kids we knew that if there was trouble, all we had to do was find the officer on duty and he would help us out. Since I have lived in Ashland, I have only had to call on the police one time. A young girl, high on something, came to my door one night and knocked. As luck would have it, that was the same night that my (then young) son had decided to spend the night at a friend’s house. I thought the person at the door was the parent telling me that my son wanted to come home. Instead, I opened the door to a young woman, trying to get into my house, thinking that she was home.
We called the APD and an officer arrived at our home within minutes. We found the young woman in my garage, asleep on a pile of laundry on the floor. She thought she’d made it home. The officer woke her up and took her home… but before leaving asked if I wanted to press charges. “No”, I replied. But then a short time later, a woman who was the youth liaison for the police force, asked if I would allow the young woman to come to my home to apologize. When I said, “She doesn’t need to do that” the woman said, “Yes, she does” and so we arranged for a meeting.
A few days later, the young woman and the liaison came to my home. The young woman said that she’d been out with friends and someone had “slipped” something into her drink. I told her, “If they let that happen, and then let you walk home alone, they are not your friends.” And then I told her that I was glad that she had come to my door because I did not harm her… and then I asked her to get some new friends.
Today I want to thank the folks at the Ashland Police Department for doing what they need to do everyday to keep us safe. There are not many of us that would take their place… and I want to show my appreciation for all of their hard work in our community.
Pie a Day Give Away 
That was very thoughtful to think of the Ashland Police.