A Taste of Home

I'll never forget the year that Taste of Home Cooking School came to our small town community center. There I was in the audience with hundreds of others, mostly women, watching test-kitchen specialists demonstrate recipes right out of the magazine. Their kitchen team made everything look so easy!
My neighbor D. was in the audience that day. We would talk later about the dishes we would try to make at home. Nothing was easy after that day.

D. soon found out that she had cancer. I packed berry boxes that summer full of fresh fruit, colorful produce, and nourishing meals to take to her. I tried to include rooster themed gifts, because she shared my love for roosters. The conversations were not long. Mostly, I would hold her hand. D. would shout out in pain and I would sit, praying to God to make it stop. Every time I left D.'s house she would say, "I love you!" and I would reply, "I love you back!"

About a month after D. was gone I opened the mailbox, and there inside was an issue of Taste of Home. I had no idea why. It made me cry. There was a card attached that read, "A Gift From D.D." It takes an amazing woman to think of others while cancer destroys her. To think that D. did that for me while she was dying is immeasurable. As I wept, I whispered, " I love you back!" And I do. Every month!

D. and I both got a taste of home.

Remember dear readers that it is all about the relationships we have. There is no greater gift than love.

From the porch,
Alis