Pie a Day Give Away

A while ago I decided it was time to see an eye doctor.  I’d always known that something was unusual about my vision but I didn’t really know what it was or really give it much thought.  Enter Dr. Dukes from Progressive Optometry.  Within a few moments he was able to tell me what was wrong.  Dr. Dukes told me that my eyes had not been working together for some time and I lacked what he called binocular vision.  I had no idea what that meant until he put the eye testing machine lenses on me and took me outside to look at a tree.  It was incredible!  I had never seen branches reach out like that before.  They were three-dimensional now whereas before what I seen was somewhat flat.

Now that we knew what the problem was, we needed to find a solution.  A simple pair of glasses was not going to work because my eyes needed two very different lens strengths.  Dr. Dukes, his wife Melissa and their staff worked with me for about a year testing a variety of contact lenses so that I could find the one that would work best for me.  And what a difference the contact makes!   I am still seeing the same objects that were there before.  It’s just that now there is a third dimension to those objects – and it is amazing.  And what’s even stranger is that I didn’t even know what I was missing.

To Dr. Dukes, Melissa and the Progressive Optometry staff, Thank you.  You changed my world view – literally!  I hope that this Apple Pie brings you a taste of the joy that I have been given.

Today is Saturday, April 30th.  It is also the birthday of my friend, Ken Hagen. Although Ken died in 1998, some of the things that we take for granted in this small town came about because of his hard work and determination. Ken championed causes that make this town a nice place to live: bike lanes on Siskiyou Boulevard, curbside recycling, and the creation of the Bear Creek Greenway.  He was a true environmentalist and wanted so much to change the way we do things.

It was at a meeting of the Ashland Conservation Commission that I first met Ken. He conducted the meeting professionally and I liked that he treated everyone that attended with respect.  A short time later, I was asked to join the Conservation Commission.  I was delighted to be a part of a group that was making a difference and very impressed by Ken’s dedication and selflessness.

What is even more amazing is that though Ken was confined to a wheelchair – crippled by Lyme’s disease – he had more energy than most able bodied people. It was hard to complain about anything when Ken was around.  I could walk, run, or do just about anything but often didn’t.  Ken was always doing more than everyone  else it seemed.  Maybe he knew that his time here was limited.

I feel so very grateful that I got to know Ken.  He was a remarkable human being – smart, funny, and willing to work to make the world a better place.  I hope that I can do as much in my life as he did in his.

Tonight I delivered a double crusted Strawberry Rhubarb pie to Russ Chapman in remembrance of Ken.  Russ served on the Conservation Commission with me and Ken and is as dedicated to conservation as Ken was.  It is an honor to have worked with both of them.

One night about 23 years ago I was watching television and an M&M’s candy commercial came on.  It featured two children in yellow rain slickers wearing galoshes. The kids saw a puddle ahead and they looked at each other and then jumped in it.  I sat there watching the commercial and began crying.  “Dear God, what is wrong with me?” I thought.  The very next day I made an appointment at the college health center and it was there that I met Lois.  I told her that I was extremely emotional and did not know why.  She ran some tests and then returned to the room and said “I’ve got good news.  You’re pregnant.”  At that point I began crying again.  Lois looked at me and said, “What’s wrong?  Didn’t you say that you were married?  And that your relationship is good?”  When I could speak I replied “Yes.”  Lois asked again, “Then what is the problem?”  I sobbed “I wanted to be perfect before I had children.”  Lois looked at me with a smile and said, “And when was that going to happen?”  She may have been kidding but her words were a great relief to me.   It was wonderful to know that I wasn’t expected to be perfect – I could just be me.  Similarly, my husband’s grandfather told us “If we all waited until we were “ready” to have kids, we’d never have any.”

Every day of our lives we interact with people.  Sometimes we know the people we meet but other times we deal with strangers.  Do you ever wonder if something you say or do will amount to anything?  I believe it – and try to be present so that I can recognize those opportunities.  It’s not easy but now and then, you will find that you can really make a difference to someone.

Today I brought Lois a quiche – and my timing couldn’t be better since her kitchen is being remodeled and she has been unable to cook.  How about that? Sometimes things work out perfectly after all.

“Life is short. We have not much time to gladden the hearts of those who journey with us. Therefore, be swift to love, make haste to be kind.”— Henri Amiel

One night long ago I woke up with what I thought was the most profound news: We are here for each other.  I’ll say that again: Our reason for living is to be there for one another. Can you imagine a world where people lived as if this was true?  How wonderful a place would that be?  We would have support when we needed it and could support others when we were able.  We would never feel alone because we would have a caring community around us.

Support can come in many ways – a shoulder to cry on, an ear to lend, a hand to hold.  Or maybe a quiche to savor when life is the most challenging.  It is the least that I can offer, and I do so with love.

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
Emily Dickinson

Before I woke up, I knew what type of pie I would make today.  A recipe for Ricotta Cheese Pie had been sitting on my counter for a week.  The recipe combines ricotta cheese with fresh apples in a pastry.   It sounded wonderful.   And it is.  The finished pie looked and smelled delicious -(one drawback when you bake a pie for someone else is that you don’t get to taste it!)

Her name is Amy but some of her peers at The Ashland Library suggest we call her “Olive” because she is the one with “all of” the information.  I first met Amy a number of years ago when she was helping with an election.  She was outside the library at night receiving ballots from those of us who are last minute voters.  I remember that she was smiling and amiable.  And it was evident that she was dedicated.  She may have been working but I got the feeling that she’d have been there even if she wasn’t paid.

Over the last few years, Amy has asked me to provide food for several library functions.  As you can imagine, her budget is limited.  What I like is that Amy just gives me the parameters and then leaves the rest to me.  It gives me an opportunity to create a lovely meal for a group of people who are incredibly appreciative.

And it is my way of thanking you, Amy, for your commitment to your community.