Day 346: Evern

17 Mar

I met Evern about 24 years ago.  At that time I was a  student in her husband’s accounting class.  He had taken an interest in me and my husband and had introduced us to his wife.  I thought it was nice that he cared about us enough to do that.

A few years later, I was a new mom of a baby girl.   Since Evern had red hair, and my daughter also had red hair, there seemed to be a bond between us right away… and that felt really great.

We moved away to Portland for a few years and didn’t see Evern or her husband… but when we came back to Ashland, it was as if we had never left.  They were as welcoming to us as always.

For a short time, many years later, Evern worked with me.  She thought that she might like working in a kitchen and decided she could handle working as an early morning baker.  Soon after she began, she realized that the recipe book that we were using was not up-to-date.  Many of those recipes needed an adjustment or two to make them work.  As we had all been working with them as is, we didn’t think much of it, but it was Evern who made a point of taking home the book and typing it up with the necessary corrections so that a new baker would know what to do!

And I think that this is the best part of our history… Evern found out a few years ago that our ancestors worked together!  My ancestor, Samuel F. B. Morse…  was the inventor of the telegraph… and her ancestor was the man who figured out how to make it possible for the messages to be transmitted via cable.  How amazing is that?

For all of the lessons that she has taught me, and for the friendship that she has afforded me, I brought Evern an Asparagus and Mushroom Quiche today.  She is a wonderful lady… and I am delighted to call her my friend.

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Day 345: Tom Curtis

16 Mar

A few days ago, my daughter and I attended a fundraiser for the Josephine County Food Bank called “First Crush.”  It was held at the Josephine County Fairgrounds and at this event there were a number of wineries offering tastings, a wide variety of food vendors, live music, and a silent auction.

While we were sampling the goodies that were offered, I ran into a woman I knew named Tracy.  We met a few years back because Tracy has been involved in Rotary First Harvest for a while and I volunteered to help with a few of the events that they held at Harry and David.  Tracy has also come out to the Ashland Rotary club’s garden to see what we are doing and share her enthusiasm about feeding people good food.

At the “First Crush” event I told Tracy about my pie project.  She then mentioned that her husband, Tom, loved sweets of all kinds… and if I ever wanted to gift him a pie, she thought he would be delighted.  Today I made an Apple Blueberry Crumb Crust Pie for Tom… and only then did I learn what he does for our community.

Tom has worked for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as the Stage Operations Manager for the past 11 years.  He, and a crew of about 30, makes sure that the sets are ready for the plays that are to be performed.   And those sets change quickly and often!   The thirty or so stage hands are responsible for five changeovers a day!  The work is intense and is critical to the success of each show.  But Tom and his crew do it with the practiced precision that they have developed over time.  This work that they do is almost as much a play as the play itself!  You can read more about Tom here.

Today, I honor Tom for his tremendous work with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival… and I would also like to honor his lovely bride who does so much to bring good, healthy food to the hungry.  They both deserve our thanks and admiration.

“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.”  William Shakespeare

Day 344: Cheryl

15 Mar

Cheryl is an amazing artist… and she is also one of the happiest people I have ever met.  When I joined the Ashland Elks, Cheryl was one of the officers… and I loved that on meeting night,  in a room full of older men, Cheryl was performing her duties while wearing (as part of her outfit) a pair of colorful striped knee high socks!  I loved that!  She brought an air of fun and levity to the meeting.

As you can see by the above photo, Cheryl is an accomplished artist, specializing in metal.  The poppies that you see in the photo adorn a field on the road to Jacksonville, where Cheryl and her husband, Chris live.  She told me that the log cabin that they live in was once lived in by the granddaughter of Daniel Boone.  I can just imagine the stories that those walls might tell!

Today is Cheryl’s birthday and I wanted to surprise her and bring her a pie.  However, I did not know if she would be at home… and it would be terrible to miss seeing her and so I called her earlier today to arrange for the delivery of her pie. When we arrived at her beautiful home tonight, Cheryl met us at the door.  She was delighted to receive a Chocolate Cream Pie… and she told me that I’d made her day.

I’m pleased to have given Cheryl a small taste of what she brings to the world everyday with her art… and offer her my best wishes for a very happy birthday!

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.
Georgia O’Keeffe

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Day 343: Ashland Police Department

14 Mar

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.

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Day 342: Dave Kanner

13 Mar

A few weeks ago, the city of Ashland officially welcomed Dave Kanner to the position of City Administrator.  Dave most recently worked as the County Administrator in Deschutes County.  Mayor Stromberg said this about Dave,“His collaborative management style, years of experience in public administration, and technical expertise, will benefit our community for years to come.”

Dave is in a new community and his family is still back home where he used to live.  When I thought about that, I imagined that he might feel a bit out of his element… and that a pie of some kind might make him feel more at home.

Today I brought a Spinach, Pepper, Onion, and Cheddar Quiche to Dave Kanner to welcome him to our fair city. I hope that he feels that he is exactly where he should be.  I don’t expect his job to be easy, and I can’t imagine what it must be like to tackle it, but I do want him to know how much we appreciate his effort and dedication on our behalf.

The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.
Vince Lombardi

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Day 341: My Cousin Darren

12 Mar

Darren and me back on Staten Island

A few months ago, I returned to Staten Island to help celebrate my cousin Guy, and his wife, Diane’s, 25th wedding anniversary. My cousin and I were both married in the same year, 1986.  My wedding was in August, and his wedding was in October.  If you follow baseball, you may remember that the N.Y. Mets made it to the World Series that year. And won!  But that is beside the point.

In 1986, a week or two after our wedding, I moved to Ashland, Oregon, with my new husband.  Since that time, I have been back to Staten Island many times, but there are some people that I never get to see.  One of those people is my cousin Darren.  He is like me in one big way: he moved away from New York and only returns for a visit now and then.  The anniversary celebration was one of those times… and for the first time in more than 25 years, I spent time with my cousin Darren.

Darren was born the year that I turned 13.  The funniest (or strangest) memory I have from the time he was little was when I was walking with him (at about age 2) and my sister, Janice, who was about 5.  My boyfriend, Michael, was watching them with me and we were walking through the neighborhood when a lady came up to us and said, “The children are so cute… are they yours?”  I was fifteen years old!  and far  too stunned to say anything at all!

Darren and I caught up a bit at the anniversary party… and he honored me with a dance to repay me for babysitting all those years ago.  A few days ago I mailed Darren a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pie for him and his son, Tommy, who he named after his Dad. I want to thank him for the memories from those long ago days… and send him love and good wishes for the future.

Cousins are different beautiful flowers in the same garden – Author Unknown.

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Day 340: Baby Elise

11 Mar


Ashland is a pretty small town and when you meet someone new and start a conversation, you are likely to find out that this new person and you have friends in common.  That was the case with Dustin and Tanya.  We met at the home of a mutual friend and shortly thereafter I found out that I knew Dustin’s Mom and her family pretty well. A short time later, when my husband needed to spend some time in Fort Klamath, Oregon, he stayed at a small place run by Tanya’s folks called, Jo’s Motel.

When Dustin and Tanya decided to get married last year, they asked if I would cater the event.  It was an honor to do so… and as you can see, they made a very handsome couple.

A few days ago, my friends Dustin and Tanya became the proud parents of beautiful little baby girl.  Baby Elise and Mom spent a few days in the hospital, and today Dustin brought them both home.  I’d arranged to bring them a pie as a welcome home Tanya/welcome to the world Elise gift.  I made an apple pie with dried cherries added in and topped it with a lattice crust…and because it was such a special occasion, I stopped to buy some French Vanilla ice cream to serve with it. We send our very heartiest congratulations and our very best wishes to the family.  We are so happy for you.

A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.
— Eda J. Le Shan

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Day 339: Megan

10 Mar

Customer Service. What does that term conjure up for you?  If you have had bad customer service, researchers have found that you are likely to tell the story of that encounter to ten friends.  If you have had good service, you will likely tell only three people.  Why?  Maybe because we expect to receive decent customer service when we are paying for it that it doesn’t seem as important to share that news.  But when we receive bad customer service, it almost seems that we should warn our friends about it out of common courtesy.

Today I want to share a good story with you.  Last December I won a gift certificate to a place called “AesthetiSpa” in Grants Pass.  The trouble is, I hardly ever get to Grants Pass.  However, this weekend we were scheduled to go to Grants Pass to attend a fundraiser for the Josephine County Food Bank called, “First Crush.”  Since we were going that way, my daughter called to see if we could use our gift certificate to the spa.  When she called and spoke to Megan, she was told that  unfortunately the spa is closed on the weekend and we could not be scheduled for any of the services.

But then Megan did an amazing thing.  She told my daughter that there were products available for purchase and if we wanted to buy some of them, she would be happy to meet us at the spa so that we could spend our gift certificate!  My daughter said, “But the spa is closed… and it’s your day off!” to which Megan replied, “I don’t mind.  Ashland is a far drive for you.”  When my daughter got off the phone and told me that she added, “Mom, you really should make her a pie.  Who does something like that?”

Not many.  And that is why we brought a Chocolate Cheesecake Pie to Megan… to thank her for coming in when the business was closed (and no, it is not her business!) and going above and beyond for us.  We really, really, appreciate her taking the time to help us.  She is a gem.

One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.
Lewis Carol

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Day 338: Sharon

9 Mar

Apple Crumb Pie

It was in the Fall of 2010 when I met Sharon.  She was in Kirby Shaw‘s choir (as was I) and in the same section as me (soprano).  After that initial meeting, I found out that we both had sons in the senior class at Ashland High School. Soon after, we both found ourselves on the committee that asked for and coordinated food donations from myriad businesses (My sincerest thanks to everyone that donated!  It was a smashing success!) for the Senior All-Night Party that followed graduation.  It was held at the Rogue Valley Family Fun Center.  What a night that was!  There was the initial chaos, but in short order, everything was under control thanks to Sharon and her husband, Tom.

Sharon and I share another similarity: like many of our peers, we find ourselves in the middle of life.  At one end we have children who are leaving (or preparing to leave) the nest, and at the other end, we have parents who are needing us more than before.  It is a challenging time that so many of us face, and yet, even though it is common occurrence, it is not without its difficulties.

Today when I thought of a pie recipient, Sharon came to mind. We spent a lot of time together in the last year and now that our kids have graduated, I hardly ever see her.  What has not changed though is that Sharon is still always thinking and taking care of other people.  In fact, when I went to deliver this pie to her door, she was at another friends door bringing help to them.

Tonight, I want to recognize and thank Sharon for her friendship, her selflessness, and her dedication (to her family and her community).  We are lucky to have people like her in our little hamlet.

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.  ~Douglas Pagels

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Day 337: Abdi

9 Mar

Chocolate Cream Pie

Many of the people who have received a pie from me in the last year have been teachers.  That should not come as a surprise to anyone… for I am the mother of two children – and I am grateful to the teachers that helped my children become the people that they are today.  As the saying goes, it takes a village….

One of the people in that village is Abdi. Abdiaziz Guled is a youth advocate at Ashland Middle School.  Well, that is the official title on the staff directory.  However, Abdi brings so much more to the kids at the middle school. He is always helping out, he is involved in leadership, and he is an incredibly enthusiastic coach.  My son told me that before a game, Abdi would have the kids form a circle and then he would lead them in an African chant. This would unite the team and get them pumped for the game.  You can see Abdi in action here.

To thank Abdi for his enthusiasm, his positivity, and his willingness to be a wonderful role model for our students, I brought him a Chocolate Cream Pie today.  We are so very lucky to have him.

“A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank…but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child.” — Forest Witcraft

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