never too old

Never Too Old
The other day I was standing looking out my kitchen window and saw something I hadn’t seen in a long time: the sunshine I walked right down to the pier and watched the sun come up over the lake. It was a beautiful sight.
It seems like the older I get, the more I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I stood there wondering how many more sunrises would I see like this–even this reminding me of how old I am getting.
I walked gingerly back to the cottage, slushing through the mud and gigantic puddles the rains had left. In a younger day, I would have walked briskly up the hill. Today, it was a bit of a chore.
I went back to my kitchen window. For sitting under the window was my sink. And sitting in the sink were dishes-never ending dishes that had to be washed.
I got myself in a snit. I didn’t want to be doing dishes. I wanted to take a walk-something I had promised myself I would do every day after my new knee got working. But, I always had an excuse to put it off. Today it was my achin’ back. It was hell to get old.
My hands were full of suds and the phone rang. Fine. I would never get these darn dishes done.
"Is this Shirley that writes the recipes?"
"Yes, it’s me," I said. I am glad I did not sound the way I felt at the moment.
" I have your mother’s chocolate cherry cake recipe in front of me. I am ready to make it and you don’t have how long it is supposed to be in the oven."
I told her my mom’s recipe did not have a time on it. The cake is very moist and needs to be checked. In fact, I had made it Sunday and the middle did not get all the way done.
But, we decided on 25-35 minutes.
We went on to have a pleasant conversation-one that changed my day, and my attitude.
She said she was old, but still liked to bake. She kept herself busy quilting, and sewing, and enjoying life.
I said, "I’m old, too." and told her my age.
She said, "I’ve got you beat. I’m 93!"
At that moment I was really ashamed of myself. My boo-hoo attitude, my thoughts, even the way I was leaning over the sink doing the dreaded dishes made me older than she.
She said she reads my column every week. I would give her name, but do not without permission. I just want to say to her, "Thank you. Thanks for bringing this "youngster" up by her bootstraps. It was a pleasure to talk to you. You make 90 the new 70. And-I hope your cake turned out.
That happened over the week-end. The sun has gone into hiding again. But I still feel pretty good. I figure I have twenty-three more years to get the pep and attitude of a lady that called me on the phone.
This recipe will be sure to have the time given. It was in the News December 6, 2006. I made a few changes. It is a recipe for biscotti. I love biscotti, but it takes longer and is just a little more work than I want to do. So I make scones They’ve become a breakfast favorite.
Cranberry Scones from a Biscotti Recipe
you will need;
One 15.6 oz pkg Pillsbury Cranberry-Orange Quick Bread Mix
1 stick plus 2 T melted butter
2 eggs, slightly beaten
½ cup white vanilla chips
2-5 T flour
Combine quick bread mix, butter and eggs
Stir until just moistened (add @ 2T flour
Mix and stir in vanilla chips
Sprinkle work surface with flour
Separate dough into two balls
Place each one on cookie sheet (I discovered parchment paper and love it. It browns the bottom just right.)
Press each ball down until they are less than one inch thick
Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until edges are browned
You don’t even have to cool. Cut with a knife dipped in water, making 8 triangles for each.
Enjoy
They freeze very well.
P.S. I tried Chocolate chip quick bread mix, and added the vanilla chips. Kind of like a triangle chocolate chip cookie.