Life and Blueberry Pancakes
Do you ever have those moments where life reminds you about what really matters?
You know… those things that really make life worth living!
Like blueberry pancakes.
OK… perhaps I need to take a step back for a moment.
I got up today (rainy winter Saturday) and looked outside. Almost all the snow we got recently has melted. Now instead of a world glistening with white crystals… reflecting and refracting the sunlight in a million different ways. The picture is dominated by deep, dull browns/greens/greys. No sunshine for days… and all that is left of that pretty blanket of white… are the big shovel/plow piles besides the driveways and parking lots… now covered with a layer of black dirt. Not exactly an image that inspires!
Instead of donning gear to go for a ski (no snow)… or even a bike ride (muddy roads with no shoulders)… I consider a walk/hike. But then… there is that “to-do” list that needs some attention. So I start looking through all the “stuff” life throws at us. Throw in a load of laundry while ignoring all the other things that need to be cleaned. Then jump on the computer and start looking through all the bills yet to be paid. Talk about putting an exciting outlook on the day!?!
I finally get to that point where all that has to be paid now is covered… and thank God there is still enough left to live! Start contemplating the budget to accommodate all the things that can’t be put off much longer. Then Jesse comes stumbling down the stairs and asks if I am hungry? Food!
Now things are looking up a little bit. We discuss options for brunch… and I head out for a local coney island. Talk about irony… I start backing out the drive between the piles of snow… and the Kenny Chesney song Mexico comes on… “The sun and the sand… and a drink in my hand… with no bottom. No shoes… no shirt… no problem. Babe, let's get packed, tank tops and flip-flops, if you got 'em
No shoes, no shirt, no problems”! Meanwhile I am driving through a dreary winter, rainy day… snow piles melting scene outside… that just does not fit with the soundtrack bouncing around inside the cab of my truck. Man is the river flowing… but it’s way too cold for a paddle.
Then I get to the drive through… place my order… and nod along to the next song playing on the radio. Pay the man… tell him to keep the change… grab the bag… and head for home. Not sure just how far I got before the smell wafted up out of that bag… and started filling the cab. I am not sure my nose had finished registering the smell before my stomach started rumbling in anticipation. Problem was… I had ordered an omelet. Meanwhile the smell tickling my taste buds was from the short stack of blueberry pancakes Jesse ordered.
By the time I got home… I am not sure I have ever craved anything more than I was craving a blueberry pancake at that moment. I set the bag on the table and hollered “food’s here”. I set to pouring myself another cup of coffee. Meanwhile Jesse starts going through the bag grabbing his stuff… and that is when it happened! You know… one of those little moments!
Between the smell of the coffee… and the smell of those pancakes… I was sure getting hungry. Then Jesse opened the container and said… “There are three pancakes. I only want two. Want one?” Ahhhhhh… the angels sang… and all was right in this world!
Here’s hoping the world smiles on you today. And that no matter how dark and dreary the scene outside might be… that inside… all is bright… and your pancakes are blue… berry!