Many people that I know claim that 2016 has not been a good year… and I’ve heard many folks say that the are looking forward to 2017 thinking “things couldn’t get worse.” This is a terrible thing to say as things can ALWAYS get worse… as this children’s book by Margot Zemach clearly illustrates.
A pie in progress for Angelina and Josephine.
On a personal level, the year has been challenging for me in several respects. First, there was the loss of my Dad this spring. He was such a fixture in my life and moving on after that loss has not been easy because, unfortunately, grief has a way of taking its’ own sweet time.
Another event has also left a scar. A few months ago, I was betrayed by a person that I loved and trusted. This news came as quite a shock to me and realizing that someone that I cared about could hurt me in such a profound way has left me questioning everything.
A pie for Charles on his birthday.
For most of my life, I have tried to believe that the world was a good place and that we should treat others as we would want to be treated. Now that I have been faced with this situation, I find myself wondering if I’ll be able to do that anymore. The short answer is, I truly hope so, however, I am sure that this incident will bring a transformation of some kind.
On a positive note, after a short time, I found myself baking pies once again. That is a good sign for sure! This pie baking “thing” really seems to help me be the person that I want to be…. kind, caring, and perhaps even a little bit vulnerable.
On Christmas Day, I watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” with my kids, Alex and Coco. At the end of the movie, my daughter asked, “Did Mr. Potter ever give the money back to George Bailey?” I said, “I I don’t think so. But it really doesn’t matter because George didn’t need the money… the people that he had helped all his life came to help him in his hour of need.” George truly was “the richest man in town” because he had so many people that loved him. My wish for you, is that when you are in need, that you are as lucky, and as loved, as George Bailey.
My very best wishes to everyone for a very Happy New Year!
“Betray a friend and you will often find that you have ruined yourself.” Aesop, Aesop’s Fables
Pie a Day Give Away 