from shirley's cottage

Hi
I wanted to say Happy Birthda to my family in my column. This is the last of the four. I may do the grandkids, maybe not. I got Maya Angelou's book, hallelujah, the welcome table. It is much more than recipes. I want to write like she does when I grow up.





It’s Your Turn, Tracy
In the past several months I have written my column saying Happy Birthday to my adult kids. Adults, yes, but still my kids. Tracy is the youngest of the three sisters,
In those days there were no miracle x-rays to tell you if you were having a boy or girl. You waited and wished. I will admit I was thinking boy. You know, they say guys want sons, the family name goes on, all that kind of stuff. I bought into it, too, thinking I would like to give my husband a boy. What a nerd I was. I had nothing to do with it. Everyone had something to say, except my husband, Ted, Sr.
He never said a word about maybe having another girl, or getting a son.. For those that knew him, it was no surprise. He was a person of few words.
Well, anyway, when the waiting was over and our beautiful new baby girl was lying in my arms, wrapped in her pink receiving blanket, her dad walked into the hospital room..
I said, "I know you wanted a boy." He leaned over and lightly rubbed her cheek. He simply said, "Boy. Girl. What’s the difference,"
I don’t know if that little baby knew that his touch showed how much he loved his third daughter. I like to think so. I know she is the one that is more like him in so many ways.
They all grew so fast. It seemed like only yesterday I was watching them walk off to school, dressed alike in blue plaid jumpers and white blouses, the uniform of St. Rita’s School.. Except for kid brother, Teddy, who had to wear blue pants with his white shirt and tie.
One day when Tracy was about ten years old, she came home from school and said she was going to go to Florida. One of the public schools was sponsoring a trip to Disney World. Of course we said no. She was just a little girl, not knowing anyone from that school, not even the teachers..
Besides, there was not a "send my ten-year-old to Florida " piggy bank in our house. She reminded us she would be eleven by the time she went, and she would earn her own money..
.
I still don’t know why we let her go. It was a tribute to her determination. When she got home after a fairy-tale trip, she said, "I’m going to live in Florida someday."
And she did. She’s the one who packed up her little blue Datsun, and headed south. She was 18.
. Sixteen years later, she came back to stay. It was a bittersweet homecoming. Her dad was ill. She left her life in the Florida she loved and came home. To be with him. To be with us.
Tracy has always been one to take in strays: people, dogs, anyone who needs a shoulder to cry on, or a pat on the head. Over the years she has opened her home, (and ours) to both.
Dogs! She has two, would like more. Her Golden is the one who ate all my tomatoes that I was going to can. He also eats remote controls, cell phones, and eyeglasses. Never mind. She loves her dogs, incorrigible Dru and sweet little Asa.
Christmas Eve was at her home this year. Her sister kept warning her not to wait until the last minute to get things done. We could help. "No, thanks," she answered. She was fine.
Everyone was expected about seven. She came into the kitchen at 5:30, arms full of groceries and packages, saying, "Don’t freak out. I’ll be ready." I just shook my head.
Of course everything turned out, as it always does, but later I had to say something. "Mom," she said, "you know I dance to a different drummer." You sure do, my daughter.
I love your beat. I love you. We all love you. Happy Birthday.
When Tracy was a kid, she was the one who made the cookies, especially at Christmas. Maybe that is why I can’t bake a cookie to this day. But, I can make a fairly decent cake if I keep it simple. I’ll try and turn this one into a birthday cake.
Chocolate Cherry Cake
from the tattered yellow recipes of Gram’s
you will need:
1 box Betty Crocker fudge cake mix
2 well beaten eggs
1 can cherry pie filling
1 T almond extract
Add cake mix to eggs,
stir in pie filling and extract
Pour in 9x13 greased pan, (or two layer round if you are going to frost)
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes
Frost or serve with real whipped cream and ice cream
Enjoy