Good Grief! It's Tuesday!

Yesterday my sweet husband, who appears to be my biggest fan, said to me, "Are you ever going to write anything again? Your fans are waiting."

He might have also mentioned that people might be thinking that all I ever write about is Downton Abbey. Alright, so I may have a slight obsession, and so I may have had a hard time getting over . . . you know, that thing that happened on the finale . . . but Downton Abbey is certainly NOT the only thing I think about.

In fact, if you scroll down my Home page here, you'll see that I also think about food and sex. So there.

[Oh gosh, the very fact that I just wrote that sentence proves that this blog has seriously lost its focus. Not that it ever really had a focus, but any semblance of a niche audience--the one thing the "experts" tell you you NEED to have a successful blog--is now completely gone and the only people left reading here are old friends from high school and my family.

Thank you to those of you who have stuck around.]

And to add to the schizophrenic nature of this blog, I thought today I'd just write a random list of things I've been doing/thinking about. Because that will really bring this whole blog thing into focus.

So here goes.

1. There's a storm a-brewin' today. No, not in my soul or in my marriage or anything like that. Really, a storm is coming. They say we're supposed to get nine inches of snow today. If the screen door on my back porch is any indication, it's true. That baby is slapping so hard right now, I know something is up with the weather.

And while I'm talking about the weather (always the best way to start a blog post, don't you think?), may I take this opportunity to shout out to the Lord that I'm so DONE with winter? Sorry, Lord, I know you might have something to say about it, but if you wouldn't mind just shutting the whole thing down after this, I'd really appreciate it.

Winter is so overrated.

2. I'm an aunt again! My younger sister had a baby one week ago today, and even though we live 900 miles apart, we're all very excited up here in the north. Little Gracie is going to be a huge blessing to our family, I just know it. She already is!

A couple of fun things about this little one and the makeup of our family. First, her next oldest cousin on this side of the family is Julia, who just turned 15. Fifteen years since we've had a baby in our family! And second, Gracie is the sixth granddaughter for my parents. Six granddaughters! (No grandsons.) Isn't that great?!

We're thrilled, as you can tell by my use of exclamation points.

3. Kate has been accepted to an internship program in Washington D.C. for next fall, and, while I'm thrilled for the opportunity for her, it's a little hard to get my brain around the fact that she'll be so far away.

I know what you're thinking: Wait. Isn't she in college? Aren't you used to not having her around? Well, yes and no. She is in college . . . eight blocks away. And, no, we didn't necessarily do that on purpose--she made her own decision about where to go to school. It has been amazing to be able to send her to school, let her be independent, but still be able to deliver food to her on occasion and get to know her friends. Even so, I  know it's time for me to let go, really, and get used to not having her so nearby. It's going to be great for her and so good for me.

But I've been thinking about how much I'm going to miss her.

4. Lately I've realized that my life is entering a new phase, which is both strange and good at the same time. Strangely good? Strange goodness? I don't know what you want to call it, but it sure is different. For one thing, our house is so quiet. With two girls in college and one who is busy with the school's spring musical, it's pretty much just me and the dog hanging out here during the day. (Except for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings when I teach my class.)

(Any burglars reading my blog right now, you know when to strike.)

The other thing that's really different (and you moms of young kids can just look away for a second so you don't hate me) is that I'm spending lots and lots of time alone. It's weird. After all those years of kids hanging on my leg or needing lunch money or asking for rides, nobody seems to need me much any more. Like I said, two are gone and one is really, really busy.

It feels like there's something coming, a change of some sort, but I don't know what it is just yet.

5. Speaking of change . . . I've been thinking about changing the look of my blog. I've loved the design, but I've had it for about three years, maybe longer, and I'm getting kind of tired of the boring green sides. I'm ready for something fresh.

What do you think?

6. I haven't written about this yet, and I'll probably write more about it soon, but I have a birthday coming up in a couple of months. It's a birthday that I should be looking forward to, like a milestone, but instead it feels like more of a millstone. Around my neck. And I hate it with every fiber of my being.

There. I said it. It's out there. Maybe I can write more about it now. For later.

And there you have it. My six random thoughts for a Tuesday.

I'm going to go see if I can find my snow shovel because it seems I am going to need it.

What are you up to today?

Top Ten Lines from Downton Abbey Season 3, Episode 7 – It’s All About Family

**Spoiler alert** Do not read further if you haven't watched the Season 3 Finale. This post does contain spoilers.

Well now, how’s everyone doing? Recovered from last night’s drama yet?

I know, I know, it’s hard to remember, but you must remind yourself that this is fiction. It’s just fiction. Tell yourself over and over again, if you must, but what happened on the season finale is just fiction.

Reminds me of when B and I were dating. He’d take me to the movies, and whenever things got a little tense or emotional he’d lean over to me and say, “It’s just light on a screen, Shelly. Light on a screen.” I never really bought it—my emotions were real, so the drama must have been, in some way, real to me. But I nodded my head and tried to tell myself, “It’s just light on a screen.”

I just watched the episode for the second time, and I think it was more sad even the second time around. I caught so much more of the subtlety and the rhythm and the theme of family and love and friendship. You should really go to the PBS website and watch the episode again.

If you can bear it.

So Season 3 is over and now we have to wait another year for what will, I hope, be several new, happy beginnings for many of the characters. This season was such a season of loss; I truly hope next season is a season of happiness. But then, Julian Fellowes is known for surprising us. I’m sure that whatever he has in store will be a great surprise.

So let’s get on with it—my top ten lines from Episode 7, better known as the episode-in-which-everyone-including-Tom-and-Robert-and-Thomas-and-Mrs. Patmore-make-peace-with-Downton.

Number 10. I have to start toward the end, during the dance in Scotland. Mr. Molesley has had a bit too much of the Scotch whisky and he’s dancing his heart out. Robert and Violet are looking on.

Robert: They do say there’s a wild man inside all of us.

Violet: If only he would stay inside.

Those of us who know my last name will know why I chose that line. *wink*

Number 9. Of course, my lady Violet had some great lines this week, as she always does. This exchange took place toward the beginning, as the family has arrived in Scotland to spend ten days with Shrimpy’s family. His shrew wife, Susan, greets Violet at the door.

Susan: Oh, Violet, we feel so privileged to have lured you this far north.

Violet: Oh, dear, you flatter me, which is just as it should be.

Number 8: Later, Violet and Susan are walking together. Violet asks about Shrimpy’s upcoming colonial post.

Violet: Do you know where it will be?

Susan: No, but it will be filthy and dirty and the food will be awful and there will be no one to talk to for a hundred square miles.

Violet: That sounds like a week with my mother-in-law.

Number 7: Oh Edith. Edith, Edith, Edith. Will you never learn? Honestly, I think Edith has worse luck in the love department than anyone I’ve ever known.

(Wait. Did I just say that? Like she’s real or something? Light on a screen, Shelly. Light on a screen.)

(And also? Sorry about some of the grainy photos. Screen shots just don't work as well as actual photos.)

So her editor, Michael Gregson, turns up in Scotland. He just happens to be in the neighborhood and would like to hang out with the family. Mary is skeptical, as Mary usually is about anyone who would be interested in Edith, but this time, Mary is right.

Matthew isn’t convinced, and when Gregson turns up for dinner, he has a great remark for Mary: "What a disappointment. He looks perfectly normal."

Later, in bed, Mary and Matthew discuss Edith’s love life for about the millionth time.

Mary: He probably took reeling classes before he left London.

Matthew: Don’t dislike him before you even know him. That’s a hallmark of our parents’ generation, and I forbid it.

Stay tuned . . .

Number 6. I won’t get into the whole staff-who-stays-behind-and-goes-to-the-fair business. It’s kind of overly complicated, although I did enjoy seeing what goes on when the family is away. Anyway, the staff does all go to the fair in Thirsk (well, all but one), and as they’re heading out, Alfred bumps into Mr. Carson in the hallway. I absolutely loved Carson’s response.

Alfred: You don’t want to come to the fair?
Carson: I would sooner chew broken glass.

So there. Harumph.

But wasn’t Carson absolutely adorable with Sybie? I loved the scene when he was just waiting in the hallway outside of her bedroom for her to cry. He goes in, lifts her out of her crib, and says, “Oh now, what’s the matter? Let’s have a little chat about it.”

Adorable.

Number 5. So there’s something amiss in the Shrimpy household, that is made perfectly clear. Rose is miserable. Shrimpy is miserable. And Susan is just a miserable shrew.

It has become clear that Shrimpy will most likely be stationed somewhere in India, and he’s had a moment to discuss it with it Violet who, not surprisingly, has some strong opinions about Rose.

Violet:Will you take Rose?

Shrimpy: I don’t think we should, but Susan won’t discuss it.

Violet: Unless you’d like her to be married to a third rate Colonial official with no money and bad teeth, Susan had better think again.

Ah, Violet, why don’t you tell us how you really feel?

Number 4: I love Violet’s more tender moments, and this was one of my favorites of this episode. Vi and Cora are discussing the tensions in the Shrimpy household, specifically things between Rose and her mother. Cora is reminded of her own struggles with Sybil.

Violet: We knew things were awkward between them, but now that I’m here I don’t think Susan handles it very well.

Cora: But it’s so complicated with a young daughter with new ideas. She thinks you’re fighting her when all the time you’re just frightened and . . . I’m sorry.

Violet: We all miss her. Every single day.

Yes, Violet, we all do still miss her, too.

Number 3: 

One of my favorite plot lines this week was with Mrs. Hughes and Tom. Poor Tom has been through the wringer this week, just trying to figure out his place in the upper class world. Housemaid Edna wasn’t making things any easier on him, that’s for sure, what with all the following him around and meeting him at the pub and kissing him when he had his shirt off. Good grief, Edna, don’t you know your place?

Obviously not.

So Tom offers to drive everyone to the fair, donning his chauffeur hat just for old time’s sake. He asks Mrs. Hughes what time they’re leaving, and Mrs. Hughes tells him he doesn’t have to go.

Tom: Why? Because I’m so high and mighty now?

Mrs. Hughes: You’re part of the family now. There’s nothing false in that.

Tom: I know.

Mrs. Hughes: I hope you do, because if someone is trying to make you feel awkward, they are in the wrong, not you.

Later, after Edna has been sacked, Mrs. Hughes takes a moment to talk to Tom in the library.

Mrs. Hughes: Would you allow me to speak as I would have in the old days?

Tom: Go ahead then.

Mrs. Hughes: You let Edna make you ashamed of your new life. But you’ve done well. And Lady Sybil would be so proud.

Tom (crying): I can’t bear to be without her.

Mrs. Hughes sits and takes his hand: You must bear it. And one day I hope, and so would she, you’ll find someone to bear it with you. But until then, be your own master and call your own tune.

[Note: this is the only word that I just couldn’t get. Thanks to Megan at Fried Okra for helping me out with that!]

So sweet to see Tom and Mrs. Hughes have that moment together. Mrs. Hughes is kind of like a mother to many of the younger staff, and it was nice to see her take that role with Tom as well. I just loved it.

Number 2: 

Well, well, well. Robert does have a moment of epiphany, doesn’t he? Remember in the billiard room with Shrimpy? Shrimpy tells Robert his tale of financial devastation, and he is basically recounting Robert’s very own tale, had Matthew not stepped in to save them all.

Robert has much to think about.

Later that night, as he and Cora are going to bed, he tells her what he’s come to learn.

Robert: I can’t wait to get home.

Cora: Aren’t you enjoying your Victorian idyll any longer?

Robert: I’m glad I was jealous of Shrimpy. It’s made me realize what a fool I’ve been. Downton will survive because of Matthew’s vision.

Cora: I’m so pleased to hear you say it.

Robert: You always knew how lucky we are in Matthew, and now I give thanks for him as I give thanks for my home and my family. And most of all, I give thanks for my wife.

I think they’ve all learned some lessons over the past year, but this episode made it clear that they have all come to love and appreciate what they have: family.

Number 1: And speaking of family. Matthew and Mary’s little family grew last night, didn’t it? And then got promptly reduced in size (for which, I have heard, many will never watch Downton Abbey again, myself not included).

But before the size reduction took place, there was this very sweet exchange in the hospital between Matthew and Mary.

Matthew: You are going to be such a wonderful mother.

Mary: How do you know?

Matthew: Because you are such a wonderful woman.

Mary: I hope I’m allowed to be your Mary Crawley for all eternity, and not Edith’s version or any one else’s for that matter.

Matthew: You’ll be my Mary always.  Because mine is the true Mary.

It was like a send-off. Mary has always been conscious of other peoples’ perception of her, but Matthew assures her that she is just enough, just as she is. And that, my friends, is unconditional love.

Their love story may be over for now, Matthew may be gone, but his words of love will ring in Mary’s ears forever. They may be just what she needs to go home and raise this little boy on her own. Words to give her the confidence to be the mother that this boy will need. Words of love that Mary will need as she moves ahead, alone.

Season 3, I’ve loved you, hated you, dreaded you, and anticipated you every week. You have never ceased to surprise me. Thank you for the few hours of joy you have given to me and to my friends and my family. It’s been fun, tragic, comical, and sad. I will miss you and will look forward to your sister, Season 4.

So let's talk. Tell me what you thought of the season finale in the Comments.

To read the rest of my Downton Abbey Top Five (or Ten) lines:

Season 3, Episode 1
Season 3, Episode 2
Season 3, Episode 3
Season 3, Episode 4
Season 3, Episode 5
Season 3, Episode 6

One Word :: Love – What I’m learning

Happy Valentines Day, friends! 

It seems fitting, on this day of love, that I should follow up with a little bit of what I'm learning from my One Word, don't you think?

First, an observation. You know what? Once you pick a word, it pops up everywhere.

Seriously, everywhere!

(I dare you to try it.)

For instance, the women’s Bible study at our church is studying I John, and although it’s hard for me to get there because of my teaching schedule, I’m trying to at least read along with them. That book has love written all the way through it!

I hear the word “Love” more these days than I have ever heard it before—on the radio, in conversations, in sermons. And every time I hear it, I think about how the person is using it, what the context is, and what I can learn about love.

So this month, through listening to others and through reading God’s word, I’ve learned this: Love is action.

I’m noticing that love kind of works this way: we perform an action; it becomes love. Either the other person knows that you love them or you begin to feel more love for the person you’ve acted in love towards. But there is always an action involved.

Every morning my husband leaves the house while I’m still sleeping. And every morning, when he’s all ready to go, gym bag in hand, he stops by my side of the bed, leans over and kisses me. Sometimes I’m more coherent than other times, but I always know that he has kissed me.

Does he always feel like kissing me? No. I’m sure he doesn’t. But he does it because it is one small way that he can show me—and remind himself—that I am his wife whom he loves.

Some verses from I John:

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.”

“This is love: Not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent His son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Did you catch the verbs there? The actions? Jesus laid down his life. God sent His son. He didn’t just stop with the love—He did something about it.

I’ve heard the phrase “love in action,” but I would suggest that the phrase should be “love IS action.” Because when you love, you do.

You listen.

You see.

You spend time.

You sacrifice.

You give.

You stay.

Sometimes love is really, really hard, and on those days just doing something might be enough. You might not feel love, but you can do love.

This weekend God is calling me out of my comfort zone to love someone. I told you it would happen! I’m a little nervous about it, but because I want to learn to love well, I will go and I will do and I will listen.

I will love.

So lesson #1 about love? Love is action.

Since it's Valentines Day and all, why not show someone you love them today?

Letters to my daughters: Sexual Purity

Dear girls,

Let’s talk about sex.

I know, I know.

I know you. I know you’re rolling your eyes right now. I know you’re thinking, “Mom, we’ve talked about this, and I’m done with it.”

I know.

But humor me for a minute.

See, last week the blog world—sorry, the Christian blog world—blew up over the topic of purity or premarital sex or chastity or whatever you want to call it. Lots of posts were written and, sadly, lots of flaming arrows were thrown.

I don’t want to get involved in all of that.

What I do want to do is to make sure you know what’s what about sex. No, not technically—I’ll let you have the joy of figuring that out on your own one day should you get married. But even though we’ve talked about premarital sex before, and you girls know clearly where your dad and I stand on the issue, I want to make sure you’re really clear.

Really. Clear.

Because, you see, I noticed something about the discussions that were going on around the blogosphere last week. Many people talked about “issues” like the “purity culture” and “shaming” and “guilt” and creating a “theology of sexuality,” but most left out the most important place to begin a discussion of humanity and sexuality and marriage:

The Bible.

God, as the creator of sex, has something to say about how He’d like us to use that gift. These aren’t my rules; they’re His. And as Creator, He has every right to make certain demands on His creation.

You know the demands. They are clearly given to us in several places in Scripture, particularly in I Corinthians 5 and 6. Paul uses words even I wouldn’t use—it’s a little hard to read—but it is the word of God and we need to take care with it. There are many other places in the Bible where God deals with the issue of sexual purity—this is just one of the biggies.

So God’s word is clear: He doesn’t want us to have sex before we’re married. Period.

But why? Why is this such a big deal? Especially if someone is in a committed relationship and they plan to get married, why shouldn’t they be free to show their love to each other?

Well, there are a few possibilities given to us in I Corinthians 6. Our bodies belong to Christ, if we believe in Him, and He doesn’t want us to use them in this way before we are married. I guess that’s one reason.

Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19)—that could be another.

But I really like the answer Paul gives in the next verse (I Cor. 6:20): “God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

See, He loves you so much that He sent His one and only beloved Son to die for you. You are worth it. And because you're worth it to Him, He wants to guard you from sins that might harm you.

This is one of those sins.

We might not understand why God has given us this command to stay sexually pure before marriage, especially since it’s a command that seems so difficult to keep, but we know one thing for sure: He loves us enough to die for us. If the life of His Son was the price He had to pay for our sins, doesn’t He have a right to request—no, demand—our obedience? 

In all things, even this?

When you were little we lived on a busy street. I hated living on that busy street because it was always such a chore to keep you in the back yard, which was not fenced, and to keep you from running to the front yard where you could possibly get hurt by running into the street. You would always try to sneak away, around the corner of the house, pushing those boundaries to see how far you could get before I caught you and made you come back to safety.

In a way, that’s how I think it is with God and our sexual purity.

He knows the danger to us, both physically and emotionally, so much better than we do. He loves us enough to give us boundaries and to tell us clearly what those boundaries are. Marriage is the boundary. Not a committed relationship (you have no idea how many people who were just sure they would be married ended up breaking up). Not outside of marriage. Just marriage. Period.

Now hear this, my darlings. You might mess up. You’ve pushed boundaries all your lives, so this is one that might be particularly difficult for you. I hope it won’t be, but you never know. But hear this: nothing is outside the grace of God.

And nothing will keep me from loving you. Ever.

We are sinful people—“prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.” There is not a single day of our lives that we are not in need of the tender, loving forgiveness of our Father. Praise Him that He so freely gives it. And know that this is not the one unforgiveable sin. There is grace.

That’s not to say that we should sin so that grace will abound. No. Our love for Jesus and His love for us should be our guiding light, always.

Last thing. Remember this: sex is an act of the body; purity is an act of the heart.

Work on your heart.

I love you so.

Mom

***
Linking this post to Richella's Grace at Home party.
***

Top Ten Lines from Downton Abbey, Season 3, Episode 6 -- The Cricket Episode

So, was it just me, or did all of you have a scary dream about O’Brien last night, too? She of the beady eyes and crazy curly-Qs on the side of her head. She haunted me in my dreams last night, and I awoke this morning with the disturbing feeling that if I hadn’t woken up, I was just about to be killed in my sleep.

O’Brien gives me the creeps.

*shudder*

Anyway, back to business. Did anyone else notice the overuse of a certain word last night? It’s not a word I ever remember hearing on the show before, and last night it got used five times (I know because I counted. You can thank me later.).  It’s the word “stuff.” Mary used it twice, Edith used it twice, and Matthew used it once.

What’s up with that?

It was bothering me, so I looked up the etymology (that means the study of the origins and uses of words) of the word “stuff.” Of course, there’s the original meaning, “stuffing,” as in the stuffing of a quilt or mattress. There were several other meanings and origins noted, most from the 14^th and 15^th centuries. (Still with me?)

And then I noticed that in 1927, just about the time this drama is being set right now, the word “stuff” came to have a new meaning: to have a grasp on something, as in He really knows his stuff. And in 1929, the word “stuff” began to be used in reference to narcotic drugs. Isn’t that interesting?

Don’t ever say you don’t learn something here.

But surprisingly, it looks like you have to go back earlier, around the 1570s, to find its usual meaning: “matter of an unspecified kind.” I thought it would be later, like, I mean, totally around the 1990s and all that stuff, dude.

Anyway, tell me I’m not the only one who noticed that they used the word “stuff” five times last night. And tell me that I’m not the only one for whom that use felt kind of, I don’t know, awkward? I wonder, were the writers trying to tell us that the word "stuff" came into vogue right around the 1920s? Hmmm.

Alright, we really should get down to business. Last night was a two-hour episode, and I’ve had a couple of people ask if I would share my top TEN lines this week rather than my top five.

Oh, all right. If you insist.

10. Are we happy that Bates is out of jail now? And that he got his job back? And that he and Anna are decorating a lovely little cottage together? (Oh, the fun blog post we could have with that one!)

Apparently people Upstairs lack a bit of just-out-of-jail sensitivity because there were a couple of lines thrown Bates’s way last night that just made me laugh.

How about this one? As Robert was trying to figure out what to do about Thomas in order to get Bates his job back he told Mr. B: “I’ll sort it out, I promise. Until then, you just rest. Stay in bed. Read books.”

ISN'T THAT WHAT BATES HAS BEEN DOING?

Anyway, Matthew, Mary, and Anna are discussing the upcoming cricket match and, by the way, who knew this family was so into cricket???

[Side note: we just kept cracking up with all the cricket talk. Cricket, cricket, cricket! They just couldn’t let it go!]

So as the "teenagers" talk about how much they don't want to play cricket but they'll do it for dear old Dad, Matthew says, "Bates must count himself lucky to be out of it." To which Anna sweetly replies: "I think he’d like to walk normally, sir, even if playing cricket was the price he had to pay."

Way to put him in his place, Anna.

9. Oh, Edith, how on earth do you get yourself into these situations? I mean, it’s fine if you want to write for a newspaper and all, but your attitude toward yourself is kind of . . . defeating.

“It’s a relief to be reminded that I’m not an object of pity to the entire world.”

And later, she just blurts out her big news in the middle of dinner to which Violet has a great response.

Edith: Listen everyone, you have a journalist in the family.

Violet: Since we have a country solicitor and a car mechanic, it was only a matter of time.

8. And another of Violet’s great remarks (there were so many last night): “If Branson is watering down his revolutionary fervor, let us give thanks.”

7. Of course, Isobel got in a rare zinger, pointing her guns directly at Violet: “Oh, have you changed your pills?”

6. And then there’s Ethel. Doesn’t she seem sweet these days? Must be Isobel’s magnanimity doing her some good. I’m sure Isobel thinks so.

I cracked up at this exchange:

Ethel: These days a working woman must have a skill.

Violet: But you seem to have so many.

5. Another great Violet line. As she, Robert, and Cora are discussing the estate agent’s leaving, Violet comes up with the great plan to give the job to Tom. Robert objects, of course, but Violet has logic on her side this time.

Well, logic and a great sense of timing.

Violet: Think of the child. You cannot want your only granddaughter to grow up in a garage with that drunken gorilla.

Cora, pleading as she does: Don’t we owe this to Sybil?

Robert: I will do it on one condition. No, two. First, Matthew agrees. And, second, you will both admit it when you realize you were wrong.

Violet: Oh well, that is an easy caveat to accept because I am never wrong.

4. Oh goodness, I haven’t even touched on the Thomas scandal. Was that a twist of fate or a play of justice or simply the writers trying their best to add some political correctness to an era that could never even begin to conceive of such a notion?

Whatever the case, Thomas comes out on top. Again.

*sorry*

He not only saves his sniveling, sorry behind, he gets a promotion! Go figure. I would never have figured that could happen in Edwardian England.

But who am I?

Anyway, Thomas does NOT get one of my favorite lines of the episode. He really wasn’t that clever or funny this time around. He was more like . . . pathetic.

But what I really enjoyed was the interplay between Carson and Mrs. Hughes. They really are the best of friends, aren’t they. And I love how Mrs. Hughes can say it like it is, in a nice way.

So just as everything is coming to light, Carson sits, shell-shocked, with Mrs. Hughes to talk things over.

Carson: Human nature is a funny business, isn’t it?

Mrs. Hughes: Now why didn’t the poets come to you, Mr. Carson? They would have saved themselves a lot of time and trouble.

3. I learned a put-down last night that I think I’m going to tuck away to use another day. I’m sure it will come in handy.

Anna and Bates invite O’Brien for “tea”—we’ll get to that later. But Anna says something to O’Brien that she doesn’t care for, so O'Brien comes back with,

“Get back in the knife box, Miss Sharp!”

Oh yeah, I’ll be sure to pull that one out (ha!) sometime.

2. There’s a very important scene between Robert and Bates, just after Bates gets his job back as Robert’s valet. Everyone’s flummoxed by what’s happened with Thomas. People are taking sides.

And some deep reflection is going on as well.

Robert: Why didn’t Carson tell me? He’s the one who’s being undermined.

Bates: It’s a very difficult subject for him to discuss.

Robert: I can imagine. It’s not as if we didn’t all know about Barrow.

Bates: That’s what I said to Mrs. Hughes.

Robert: I mean, if I had tried to call Blue Murder every time someone tried to kiss me at Eaton, I’d be hoarse in a month.

Can I just say, Eeeeew! to that one? Eeeeew! But still, so funny.

And, yes, I had to look up the origin of the term “blue murder” and here’s what I found: "’Getting away with blue murder’ 

implies a person has gotten away with something so bad that they were expected to get caught for. If a royal was murdered it would be assumed that the culprit would be apprehended as there would be an unusual large manhunt undertaken making getting away with this murder harder than the murder of a normal person. And since royals are known as blue bloods this is where the term originated.”

Consider yourselves wiki-informed.

1. Now, my number one choice for this week might seem a little strange to you, especially if you haven’t seen Seasons 1 or 2, but, to me, this little line was quintessential Downton—just a little hint, just a little jab, but a tiny little line that packs a lot of punch.

Remember that scene in Bates and Anna’s cottage? They’ve been having tea with O’Brien. Tea-with-a-purpose, that is, because Bates is asking O’Brien to tell Jimmy to drop his threats against Thomas. (Following this?) She, of course, refuses. Bates stands up, walks over to O’Brien, and whispers something in her ear that makes her turn as white as a ghost.

Later, Anna asks Bates what exactly he said to her. He kind of shrugs his shoulders and tells Anna that he has no idea what it means, but Thomas had said it:

“It was her ladyship’s soap.”

You got chills, didn’t you? Come on, you know you did!

And there you have it, my friends. Hope you’ve enjoyed this little foray into fictional Edwardian land, or as my little friend C calls it, “The beautiful show.”

And it really is beautiful, isn’t it?

Now, head to the comments and discuss. And have a great week!

Like what you read here? Why not sign up for regular updates via RSS feed or email? You can do it just over there -----> and I'd be really, really happy. Thanks!

Top Five Lines from Downton Abbey, Season 3, Episode 5 or “Robert’s Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day"

Poor Robert. He was really having a bad night, wasn’t he? Seemed like he was facing opposition at every turn in this episode, not the least from his wife.

So let’s start there, shall we?

Robert and Cora. I have to say that their grief was very raw this episode, and, I think, very realistic. I felt their pain when Cora shut him out and when Robert tried over and over again to reach her. So, so difficult. You can just feel their sadness.

5. And so, I start with the exchange between Robert and his mother. It was a tender scene, wasn’t it? Robert confessing that things between him and his wife weren’t in the best place at the moment, and Violet adding her wisdom, compassion, and even a touch of humor to the situation.

Violet: Robert, people like us are never unhappily married. (Delivered, I must add, with the perfect comedic timing.)

Robert: I can’t seem to think straight about any of it.

Violet: My dearest boy, there is no test on earth greater than the one you’ve been put to. I do not speak much of the heart since it’s seldom helpful to do so, but I know well enough the pain when it is broken.

Ah, Violet. This is why I love her so. While she can be snarky (as we shall soon see) and biting and condescending, she can also be deeply compassionate and loving to those around her. I just love the way they have developed her character, especially this season.

4. I have to say that I resonated with much of this episode, having lost a sibling of my own a long time ago. So much of what they said about grief rang true to me.

Like, for instance, Violet’s words: Grief makes one so very tired.

And then there was Cora’s poignant line: Is it over? When one loses a child, is it ever really over?

I applaud the writers for getting much of this right.

3. I love, love, LOVED the interlude with Daisy and her father-in-law. How sweet are they? Did you see the big smile he had on his face when Daisy walked up to the farm? Adorable!

But even before she left, there was the brief discussion in the kitchen. Alfred doesn’t get it, does he? He thinks that being a farmer, working for himself, would be so much easier than being in service. He talks about how great it would be to not have to answer to anyone. But Daisy puts him in his place. She totally gets it, and defends William’s dad in the process.

“No farmer’s his own boss. He takes his orders from the sun and the snow and the wind and the rain.”

Dad, that one’s for you.

 Later, when visiting with Mr. Mason, he asks Daisy how it’s going with “the lad” she was interested in. Daisy explains that he (Alfred) has eyes for someone else (Ivy), and Mr. Mason has the perfect, perfect comeback: “Well he’s a fool. Not worth bothering with. He’s seen a diamond and he’s chosen glass.”

I think a certain dad of daughters around here may have tucked that one away for someday if necessary.

2. You know this one had to make my list. In the scene with Violet and Dr. Clarkson, she’s trying to persuade him to come clean with Cora and Robert about Sybil’s chances of survival. It’s important to Violet to get the two of them to move forward together, so she asks Dr. Clarkson to present the truth in as “helpful” a way as possible.

Dr. Clarkson: You want me to lie?

Violet: “Lie” is so unmusical a word.

Yes it is.

1. And finally, the scene that topped my list last night took place in Isobel’s dining room. Ethel, the former prostitute (gasp!), was serving all of the ladies their luncheon. Robert’s horrible, terrible, no good, very bad day has reached its peak at this point, and he storms into the dining room just as Ethel has brought in the dessert.

Robert comes across as the bigoted prude that he is, but is trying not to be, and Cora staunchly refuses to budge. (“Oh, is that a Charlotte Ruse? How delicious!”) Edith and Mary just sit there with their mouths open. Ethel just about drops the tray. Isobel stands in defiance.

Finally, Robert, in exasperation, says, “Is anyone coming with me?” To which Violet replies: 

It seems a pity to miss such a good pudding.

And the gauntlet has been thrown. Old vs. new. Tradition vs. progress. Law vs. grace. Seems like things are changing just a little too rapidly for poor Robert.

What do you think? Will Robert be able to roll with the changes? Will the estate be saved? What was your favorite line of the week? Comments, please!

Letters to My Daughters: Decisions

Last year I started this series and, like most things on my blog, it kind of got dropped for a while. These are some of the most fun, most meaningful posts I write (to me, anyway), and they are on my mind a lot. So I decided to keep going. I'll probably post a "Letters to My Daughters" post once a month or so. We'll see how it goes.

* * * * * 

Dear girls,

When I was a senior in high school, I had a big decision to make: should I go to the college I had already committed to, or should I completely change direction and go where I felt God was leading? It was a hard decision because it involved money (my parents would lose the deposit money they had put down at School #1) and it involved the unknown (I didn’t know much about School #2).

In desperation one day I asked my mom what she thought I should do. I’ll never forget her answer: “I can’t make that decision for you. You’re the one who is going to have to live with it, so it has to be your decision.”

To be honest, at the time her answer frustrated me, but today I see how very wise she was. My mom knew that where I would end up going to college would be life-changing . . . for me, not for her. In fact, my decision wouldn’t impact her life much at all. She also knew that it was time for me to own my decisions. If I ended up in a place where I was unhappy, she didn’t want me to look back and blame her for it.

What I remember most about that time in my life was wrestling, really wrestling, with making a decision. And if I’m honest, I’d have to say that I still wrestle with decision-making even today. I play around with the possibilities, rolling them around in my mind, questioning the outcomes, wondering what if I do something wrong or, worse yet, make someone unhappy?

I’m kind of a mess.

But you know that already.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking that you are going to have some big decisions to make in the coming years.

Where to go to college?

What should you do after graduation? Work? Grad school? Where? Doing what?

Even, maybe, whom to date and possibly marry.

The decisions you make will only get bigger as you get older, and I can’t make them for you any more. Just as my mom wisely taught me, you have to be responsible for the decisions you make.

But you might be wondering, how do you make a good decision? I have a few guidelines that have helped me through the years. Maybe they’ll help you, too.

Pray. You really shouldn’t make any decision without prayer. Philippians 4:6 (NLT) says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for what He’s done.”

Pretty good instructions for decision making, don’t you think?

Do I always do this? No. But I’ve grown a lot in this area. When I was in my 20s, I thought I had so much control over my life that I didn’t bother God with mundane things like my decisions. But I’ve learned that when I pray, I’m telling God that I really do want what He wants for my life. So now I come knocking on His door regularly.

Listen. After we pray, we really need to learn to step back, take time, and listen to what God might be telling us. He doesn’t speak audibly to us anymore, of course, but He definitely speaks. The more in touch I get with Him, the more I can tell that He speaks to my heart. He prompts me. He guides me. He directs me.

Sometimes He uses other people. As I have conversations with people, sometimes I gain a better understanding of a situation. God definitely uses others in my life to speak to me.

And He uses His word. Part of listening is being in the word, reading what He has to say to us, and heeding His advice.

Finally, and maybe the thing I’ve learned most about making decisions, is to move ahead without fear. When your dad and I were trying to decide how to educate you girls, we felt a prompting to send you to public school, even though most of our friends were choosing Christian school for their kids. We prayed about it and felt strongly that we couldn’t make a decision based on fear. How many times does Scripture say, “Do not fear" or "Be not afraid”? A lot. God is not a God of fear, so if we’re praying about our decision, and we listen for His answer, we should not be afraid to move ahead.

So, three steps: Pray. Listen. Move.

Trust God’s love for you, my dear girls. It is so big. He promises never to fail you nor forsake you. Doesn’t that imply that he will walk with you through your decisions?

Finally, girls, I want to remind you that you are never alone. Sometimes you’ll make great decisions, and we’ll all celebrate together. Sometimes you’ll make a decision that needs tweaking, maybe even completely reversing, and we’ll walk that road with you, too. No matter what, we will be on your side, cheering from here.

Love,

Mom

P.S. I ended up at School #2. You know the rest of the story. . . .

Top Five Lines from Downton Abbey, Season 3, Episode 4

*****Spoiler alert. If you have not yet watched Episode Four, DO NOT read ahead unless you want to know what happens. Seriously. You will be very upset if you have not watched. Just warning you now.*****

Have a seat. We have some discussing to do.

First, how are you? Are you doing O.K. today? Have you come to grips that Downton Abbey is fiction or are you, like me, really feeling something here?

Second, I’m ashamed of my behavior. The crying, the carrying on, because, seriously, it’s FICTION, people.

Of course, I have been known to sob at the ending of a really good book (My Sister’s Keeper, anyone?).

I watched this episode last night with my husband and youngest daughter (and, yes, forgive me, but I kept looking at her and thinking, “what if?”—she’s the youngest of three daughters). And then, stupidly, I watched it again this afternoon to, you know, put me in the mood to write about it. Oh my! Why? I think I cried more the second time around than the first.

Am I getting ahead of myself? Yes, I think I am. Because my blog posts are supposed to be about the five best lines of the episode, and my number five line happened before all the . . . you know . . . happened.

So let’s start with number five, shall we?

5. Happier days, to be sure. When Sybil was awaiting the birth of her baby and all was right with the world. She and Mary are talking in her room, Mary making it all about her (as usual) and how someday she would have a baby, too, when Sybil brings in a reality check.

She tells Mary that she feels as big as a house, her ankles are swelling, and her head hurts (uh oh!), and then she says a line that I think every pregnant woman in her last trimester of pregnancy has uttered a time or two:

“Honestly, I cannot recommend this to anyone.”

Yes, Sybil, I remember those days. My sister, Jodi, is three weeks away from delivering her first child, and I have a feeling she would probably agree with your sentiments right now as well.

Moving on . . .

4. It wouldn’t be a Downton episode without some pitiful remark from Edith now, would it? She’s gotten an opportunity to write for a London newspaper. She’s excited, as she should be, but, of course, Robert’s cutting remarks bring her down a notch or two. Matthew tries to encourage Edith, but she takes the opportunity to present her pathetic side.

“Don’t bother, Matthew. I’ve always been a failure in this family.”

Oh, Edith, you’re getting tiresome.

*****

And now I can’t avoid it. The matter must be taken up—the matter of Sybil’s death, which, I must say, is almost too horrible to even write.

3. I’ve never included myself in this list before (although I would love more than anything to be given the opportunity to do a cameo on Downton Abbey and be able to legitimately quote myself from the show), but today, I think I get the number three spot. Because as everything was going on, the walls crumbling down around them, people screaming madly at one another, doctors standing helplessly by, I shouted (O.K., I may have even pointed) at the television. Robert, more specifically:

“This is ALL YOUR FAULT!”

Anyone with me?

Talk about living in a delusional, fictional fantasyland—I screamed at the T.V. I actually yelled at Robert through my tears. I was hysterical.

I’m better today.

I think.

And how about Cora basically telling everyone that this is Robert’s fault and that if they had followed Dr. Clarkson's instructions, Sybil would probably still be here? Harsh, but true. (B thought that was the most realistic scene of the night.)

I guess Cora agrees with me.

2. Now let’s talk about all the tributes to our darling Sybil. She really was a favorite, wasn’t she? And with good reason.

Here I’m just going to include my favorite tributes from various characters because they were all so good.

First up, Cora. Could you believe that scene with her sitting next to Sybil saying goodbye? My heart could barely take it in when she said, “My beauty. My baby.”

And then there was Thomas. Oh, Thomas. I might have found just a trickle of sympathy for him last night when he said, “In my life, not that many have been kind to me. She was one of the few.” Finally, some truth spoken from Thomas’s lips.

Mary, to Edith: “She was the only person living who always thought you and I were such nice people.” Yep. Got that right.

Mrs. Hughes, though, put it best: “The sweetest spirit under this roof is gone, and I’m weeping myself.”

1. I think the best lines of the night, however, came from my Lady Vi. Even though I disagree with her sentiments, to a point, I think the delivery was absolutely perfect.

Just at the end, after Cora gave it to Robert in front of everyone and left the room to go write the apology letter to Dr. Clarkson, Violet walked over to her son and, in the midst of palpable grief, delivered such beautiful words. Most needed at the time, I think.

“My dear when tragedies strike we try to find someone to blame. And in the absence of a suitable candidate, we usually blame ourselves. You are not to blame. No one is to blame. Our darling Sybil has died during childbirth, like too many women before her, and all we can do now is cherish her memory, and her child.”

And so, cherish we will. 

***

Just in case you didn't get enough last night, I found this on the PBS website. Grab some kleenex and watch:

Watch Downton Abbey: Sybil and Tom on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

***

Talk amongst yourselves in the comments.

***

Top Five Lines from Downton Abbey, Season 3, Episode 3

Oh, the drama this week. Strange, unidentified men running through town in the rain. Sybil gone missing. Bates and Anna not getting their mail.

And wasn’t our Violet in rare form this week? Is it just me or is she getting more one-liners every week?

Let’s start with Violet, shall we? Let's end with Violet, too.

5. My fifth pick this week surrounds the Tom-drama and the trouble he got himself into in Dublin.  (Who knew that he and Sybil had even returned to Dublin? That, itself, was a shocker to me.)

Anyway, Tom tells the whole dreadful story about the estate home being burned to the ground (thank goodness they got the family out first!). I swear, every pair of Crawley eyes in the room was the size of saucers. (These Grantham/Crawleys really haven’t seen much of real life, have they?) They discuss how they knew the family that was attacked. How they had visited their home a while back. How they were people just like them, only, apparently, living in sub-par housing.

Edith: What a tragedy.

Violet: Well, rather yes and no. That house was hideous.

4. Don’t you just love Daisy and her father-in-law? To me, they are two of the most precious characters on the show.  He loves her like a daughter, and Daisy loves him, too, in her own way.

The scene between the two of them this week was just adorable, I thought. Daisy took it upon herself to practically ask Mr. Mason’s permission to “have eyes” for someone else.

Daisy: This’ll be hard for you. . . but . . . what would you say if I’d met a man I liked. Because the last thing I’d ever do would be to hurt you.

Mr. Mason: What? D’you think I’d want you to be alone your whole life long?

Daisy: No.

Mr. Mason: Well, William wouldn’t want it neither.

Daisy then acknowledges that there might be someone who has caught her eye and asks Mr. Mason for some advice. She wonders if he thinks it would be O.K. for her to let this boy know that she likes him.

Mr. Mason’s response is so sweet, and earns my number four spot this week:

“Oh. This is too modern for me, Daisy. I’d only say this. You have a pure heart and if he’s a proper man, he’ll know that. But take your time. Prepare what you’ll say. Make sure your words cannot be misconstrued.”

Some great advice there.

3. More Downstairs antics, this time played by Mrs. Hughes. I truly think the woman bought a toaster just so Carson could deliver this gem-of-a-line:

“Is it not enough that we are sheltering a dangerous revolutionary, Mrs. Hughes? Could you not have spared me that?” (Pointing at the toaster.)

Bwahahaha.

2. Robert’s only cue this week was “scowling.” He scowled, harrumphed, growled, shouted, and acted incredulously throughout this episode.

I, for one, was glad to see the man find his backbone—it’s about time he took some action on behalf of his family. All of his impotence is going to catch up with him pretty soon, I have a feeling. After all, Matthew’s got his nose in the books now.

You’ve got to feel kind of sad for Robert, though, as he pines to his mother about the latest debacle involving Tom.

Robert: Other men have normal families with sons-in-law who farm or preach or serve their countries in the army.

Violet: Maybe they do, but no family is ever what it seems from the outside.

Truth, Violet. Truth.

1. You’ve probably already guessed my favorite line from Episode 3, but just in case, let me set the scene. Edith (“Finally! Something about me!”) has paid a visit to her Grandmama, and Violet asks how she’s getting along.

Violet: I worry about you, dear. That sort of thing is so horrid.

Edith: Being jilted at the altar. Yes it is horrid, multiplied by about ten thousand million.

Edith wonders what she will do with her life now that it seems she’s destined to be a spinster. (Take up gardening? Horrors! No!)

Finally, Violet gets right to the heart of the matter: Edith dear, you’re a woman with a brain and reasonable ability. Stop whining and find something to do.

Hands raised if you’ve wanted to slap THAT line on someone a time or two in your life. Hands raised again if you plan to tuck it away for the future.

Yes, that was my favorite line from this episode, maybe even my favorite of all time, it was that good. But I want to leave you with one more this week:

“I give you my blessings for your whole life long, my darling boy.”

I can’t take it.

*****

So what did I miss? What were your favorite lines this week? Speak up in the Comments!

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Photos: 1|2|3

Fabulous Friday Food - Braised Short Ribs

Well, hello there. I just checked my archives and found that I haven't done a Friday food post since October. And before that, it was August. And June.

I guess I haven't been very faithful in that, have I?

Oh, let's be honest. I haven't been faithful at all.

I'm no food blogger, and I never will be--Ree Drummond can have the spotlight in that arena. But what I do know is that I can cook me some real good food. (Ree's got nothing on me in the area of execution, if I do say so myself.)

And what I also know is that I love to share my food with you.

So one goal that I have for this year is to share more recipes with you. I promise you I won't blog about food every week, but maybe every two or three weeks might be reasonable. At least once a month--how about that?

So, with that out of the way, let's move on.

Let's talk about pots, shall we? 

I've become a collector of pots, it seems, because my cupboard is bulging with them.

Here's one of the earliest pots I acquired. I think I stole this from one of my college roommates, but I'm not sure. I don't think it was my moms. That's how old this pot is--I can't even remember when or where I got it.

It's kind of hideous, isn't it?

But it still works great, and I'm sure some college girls will LOVE using it next year.

The next pot is one of my favorites--you've seen it featured here many times before. It's a Magnalite roaster that dates back to probably the 1950s.

But this one is special because it belonged to my Grandma Nell. She gave it to me when I was in college, so I have had this since before I got married. This beautiful roaster has made many a meal, has seen many a disaster, and has given me many moments of happiness.

I'll be sad to ever see it go.

Several years ago, when I worked at Williams-Sonoma during the Christmas season (yeah, it was fun and no, I didn't make a dime because I spent it all), I bought this shiny Calphalon pot. Lots and lots of delicious soup has been made in this one.

I also have a 12-quart stock pot complete with both a steaming AND a pasta basket. But I didn't give you a picture because I need to move on.

This Christmas my dear husband gave me this.

Isn't it beautiful?

I will love him (and it) forever.

I have been hinting and hinting for YEARS that I would love to have a Le Creuset, ever since the Williams-Sonoma incident, I think. He finally took the bait.

I've already used it at least four times since Christmas, but I wanted to share with you my inaugural recipe for the Le Creuset: Braised Short Ribs. I made these on New Year's Eve for our family. Get ready to lick your chops. These are GOOD.

Never had short ribs before? Never even heard of short ribs? Me too, until a few years ago when my husband took me to the most amazing French restaurant that served Short Rib Ravioli with Sherry Cream Sauce. Heaven!

Short ribs (known in the UK as "thin ribs" or "Jacob's ladder") are a strange little cut of beef. They can be tough, which is why they require long, slow cooking methods. I get mine at Costco where they come boneless and cut in long strips, but you could probably get them at a butcher shop, too.

I saw Anne Burrell make these on the Food Network a couple of years ago and thought, I could do that, because Anne makes everything look so easy. Turns out they were! This is pretty much Anne's recipe.

Take your beautiful pot. Or your old dingy one. It really doesn't matter.

Get it good and hot and put a little olive oil in the bottom. Add the meat and brown it well on both sides with plenty of salt and pepper.

While the meat is browning, take some onion, carrot, celery, and garlic, and pulse it in a food processor. Go ahead. Pulse away. Anne says to make a paste out of it.

When the short ribs have finished browning, set them aside on a plate.

Then add a little more olive oil to the pot and add the vegetables. Anne says to brown the vegetables until a "crud" forms on the bottom of the pot. Scrape it, brown some more, and scrape again.

Then add 1 1/2 cups of tomato paste (that's a big can--12 ounces) to the crud on the bottom of your pan.

Appetizing, no?

Keep browning and scraping, browning and scraping, because this is where all the flavor comes from. Trust me, it's worth it.

Now add lots of red wine and let the whole thing bubble and reduce for a while. In the end, you'll get a sauce that looks like this.

Add the short ribs to the sauce and add enough water so that liquid covers the meat. Place a bundle of thyme on top, along with a bay leaf or two, and put the whole thing in the oven for three hours.

(Here's another shot of my pot going in the oven. Isn't she pretty?)

That's right. Three hours. (About halfway through you'll want to turn the meat over and add more water if you think they need it.)

When finished, the short ribs will be tender and, ohmygoodness, so delicious.

Serve them on a pile of homemade mashed potatoes.

Your family will think they've died and gone to heaven.

And they have!

So there you go. It's a long weekend, it's supposed to get cold, so you need something to do. Go make this recipe. Don't be afraid of it. You can do this!

And if you want a printable copy of this recipe, click here.

Linking this post to Amanda's Weekend Bloggy Reading Link-up.

Top Five Lines from Downton Abbey, Season 3, Episode 2

Well now. Wasn't that fun?

I mean, fun for us, but not for poor Edith. And poor, poor Edith is where I think I'll start this week with my Top Five Lines from last night's episode of Downton Abbey.

5. Did anyone else want to slap Edith as she exclaimed, while giddily watched everyone else working so hard to get ready for her wedding, “Something happening in this house is actually about me!” Anyone? Anyone?

But I did love her "Papa's" comeback to Sir Anthony when he asked Robert if he was happy about the marriage: "I’m happy Edith is happy. I’m happy you mean to keep her happy. That is quite enough happiness to be going on with."

Oh those English, they really know how to evade an answer, don't they?

4. Isobel has got to be the most self-righteous, falsely-pious do-gooder I've ever seen, and I, for one, am getting just a leeettle bit tired of it. Surely she's going to get knocked down a peg pretty soon. Or at least gain an ounce of humility.

But in the meantime, it's Violet's job to keep Isobel humble, and she's certainly earning her keep.

This week brought another subtle jab from Violet. Isobel ever-so humbly (not!) joined the chauffeur in the front seat of the car during the "family outing" to Downton Place (you know, that dump the family might have had to move into if Matthew hadn't come to his senses). Sir Anthony says he would have gladly sat in front, but Isobel waves him off with another one of her placating remarks: "Oh, I've sat in the front seat plenty of times" or something like that.

Violet grimaces, then jabs: "Oh, aren't you a wild thing?"

Touche, Violet! Touche!

3. For newlyweds, Mary and Matthew are sure doing their fair share of bickering over money. This does not bode well for the future, I have a feeling. Mary, you've got to stop hen-pecking your husband over his inheritance. It's getting annoying, even to me.

But Matthew had a great comeback for her after she practically forced him to read the letter from Reggie Swire: "Are you sure you didn't write it?"

Bless you, Matthew, for taking her on.

2. My second-favorite moment of the episode came when Cora confronted Mrs. Hughes about the possibility of her being sick. She rambles on and on while Mrs. Hughes just stands there, mouth hanging open, completely stunned that Cora even knows anything about her "situation."

Before Mrs. Hughes can get a word in, Cora tells her, "I don’t want you to have any concerns about where you will go or who will care for you because the answer is 'here' and 'we will.'”

Such a sweet moment of grace and compassion.
 

1. Soooo, Edith's wedding doesn't quite go as planned. In fact, we could discuss what happened there for a long time (i.e. the way Sir Anthony's head shot up when Edith mentioned Lady So-And-So getting a divorce, or the way Sir Anthony practically RAN to the car when he ditched the wedding scene).

And there was no shortage of discussion at the Big House, either. Leave it to our Lady Violet to lighten up any situation with her sardonic wit. Remember the dining room scene right after the not-happening-wedding?

Cora: Oh, that reminds me, Carson. I don’t want Lady Edith to see any of the wedding food.

Carson: Mrs. Hughes and Anna are taking what’s left down to Mr. Travis tomorrow--for the poor.

Violet: If the poor don’t want it, you can bring it over to me.

Oh, Madam Dowager, I do so love you!

*****

And with that, I'd like to congratulate Maggie Smith on receiving a Golden Globe award, which was probably handed out at just about the same time Downton Abbey was airing last night. 

Dame Maggie, you're the best!! (Please sign on for Season 4! Please?)

So who can't wait for next week? I'm sure there will be plenty more surprises to discuss.

In the meantime, head to the Comments and start talking! I want to know what you thought about last night's episode. Any favorite lines I missed?

*****

My other DA Season 3 posts:

Episode 1

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

*****

Like what you read here? Why not sign up to follow me via RSS or email? You can do that just over there ------->. 

Photo credits

One Word 2013 :: Love

I smelled him before I saw him.

That sounds terrible, I know, but the smoke and body odor was so strong that it made me look up from my basket of groceries.

I saw the culprit, two people in front of me in the checkout line, as he struggled with shaking hands to stuff change and chocolate bars into the pocket of his red hooded sweatshirt. His hair was disheveled. His beard bore the signs of several days growth. His brown pants, tattered and too big. And on his feet he wore not shoes, but blue corduroy slippers.

Not your typical Trader Joes shopper.

At the end of the counter stood another man, neatly dressed, a kind smile on his face. A friend? He watched, patiently, as the bedraggled man struggled to zip the pocket holding the cherished chocolate bars.

“He just got out of the hospital,” the man at the end of the counter said to the cashier.

“Oh, that’s too bad,” said the guy at checkout.

“But you’re going to be O.K., Jim, right?” said his patient friend.

Nothing.

Shuffle, shuffle. The pocket just wouldn’t accept the change. Not quickly, anyway.

They finally finished their transaction and the friend said goodbye to the cashier, not a trace of impatience or embarrassment on his face. “Come on, Jim. Let’s get going,” his friend said in no particular hurry at all, despite the growing line in the Express Lane.

Jim shuffled behind his friend, head bent, barely taking in the busy scene of the grocery store, while his friend gently took his elbow and guided him out of the store.

In that moment, it wasn’t Jim who had caught my attention, it was his friend. A friend who had obviously seen a need—a need for chocolate, a need for a ride to the store, a need for attention—and had responded in love. It showed on his face, in his demeanor, in his actions.

This man, who looked nothing like Jim, who looked more like the “rest of us,” was not concerned about appearance. He was concerned about Jim.

He loved.

* * * * *

Two years ago I gave in to the “One Word” craze and chose “Grace” as my word for 2011. Even though my skeptical heart was quite cynical about the whole thing, I have to say, it worked.

Grace stayed on my mind. It permeated my thoughts. I began to see it everywhere, and pretty soon I started to show it a little more. I hope.

Last year I had a word in my mind, but I never wrote about it. I never even talked about it. With anyone. I kept it tucked away, probably because it seemed like too much, too hard.

But this year, I think it’s time to come clean and expose the word I’ve been rolling around in my head for the past year. In fact, I’m just going to claim it for this year and see what happens, because two years ago Grace walked in, sat down, and became a better part of my life. I hope this word will do the same.

You’re probably scratching your head, wondering why I’m choosing Love as my word for the year. If you know me at all, you probably think I love enough already. I have a wonderful family to love. I have great friends to love. I even have a room full of students to love.

And I do. I love each one.

But you know what? I don’t think I love any of them well.

As I thought about love, unspoken, throughout the year last year, I realized that my love is often so conditional. You love me; I’ll love you back. I know that’s not how it’s supposed to be. I’m not even sure I know fully what love means.

For so long I have thought that love means commitment, and it does, but it’s more than that. You see, Jesus tells us to love our neighbor who could very possibly be someone we don’t know well at all, someone to whom we may not be committed. So what kind of love is that?

God is teaching me that love has so little to do with me and so very much to do with those around me. He’s showing me that love has everything to do with putting myself in the shoes of another, walking through their day, seeing life through their eyes. He’s teaching me that love cannot be on my terms—that it needs to be freely given with no strings attached. Love is letting myself go and putting others first.

I wonder, how many times have I just assumed something about someone without really stepping into their world, seeing things through their eyes? How many times have I made snap judgments based on what my experience tells me rather than learning what their experience has really been?

Love takes time. Love listens. Love observes. Sometimes, Love shuts her mouth.

And this is just the beginning. I know I have so much to learn about how to love well.

Trust me, this is scary. I don’t know what God might call me to do in the process of really learning how to love. I mean, might He call me to love the homeless man in the Express Lane at Trader Joes?

Funny thing is, He already has.

I just want to learn more about how that should look.

I want to love well.

* * * * *

How about you?  Have you chosen a word for this year? I'd love it if you'd share it in the comments.

* * * * *

 A huge thank you to Melanie at Only a Breath who chose "give" for her word and is GIVING these beautiful "One Word" buttons to anyone who requests one. Visit her. Follow her. I know she'd love to hear from you.

* * * * *

Linking this post to Melanie's One Word blog party at Only a Breath and to Word of the Year link party at The Lettered Cottage.

Top Five Lines from Downton Abbey, Season 3, Episode 1

They're back!

It feels like it's been a year since we've had fun with the Grantham/Crawley clan. Wait. It almost has been a year! The waiting has been grueling, but it's finally over and Season 3 has begun.

What fun!

And, as promised, I'm going to record my Top Five (or Ten) favorite lines from each episode. Will you join me?

It was a challenge, folks, to find only five great lines in the opening episode of this new season of Downton Abbey. I mean, when Robert refers to himself as a "Chicago bootlegger," who can resist?

(Personally, I had to roll my eyes at that one. I think many people in England still think of Chicago as the land of Al Capone. Good grief!)

And the words of wisdom that were bandied about in this episode! Like when Anna tells Bates: "Never make an enemy by accident." I may have to do a separate post on all the aphorisms used. Stay tuned.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode; it seemed to me to be kind of flat. I'm sure they were just setting us up for the rest of the season, which is important, but it seemed like nothing much really happened.

Well, aside from Matthew and Mary finally getting married. Whew! So glad that's official.

And that brings me to my Number Five quote(s) from the episode. I just loved when Matthew and Mary were standing at the altar (pretty much the only thing they showed us of the wedding, by the way) and Matthew looked at Mary and said, "To be honest, I wasn't sure you'd show up." To which Mary replied, "Good, I'd hate to be predictable."

That's my girl, Mary. Gotta keep him on his toes.

And while we're on the subject, did anyone else just crack up at the interchange between Robert and Matthew when M&M returned from their honeymoon?

Robert: How was the honeymoon? 

Matthew: My eyes have been opened.

Robert: Don't I know it.

Um, yeah. Awkward. How many of you would actually talk to your in-laws about your honeymoon? Like, ever?

I didn't think so.

Moving on to Number Four. Matthew and Tom had a couple of nice scenes together; I hope they continue this friendship.

Matthew: "We're brothers-in-law with high minded wives. We've got to stick together."

Ha! I've got a husband and a couple of brothers-in-law who could probably say the same thing.

Or how about this one, as Matthew is asking Tom to be his best man?

"If we're man enough to take on the Crawley girls, we've got to stick together." 

Think Matthew wants them to stick together? Redundant, yes, but cute.

Finally, I think Tom has Matthew pegged. As his best man, Tom has to do the job of convincing Matthew to just forget petty arguments about the family fortune and go ahead, bite the bullet, and get married. He tells Matthew this: “But you’re meant to be together. . . . Because I’ll tell you this. You won’t be happy with anyone else while Lady Mary walks the earth.”

Isn't that so true? So true!

Number Three. Tom was great last night, and I'm kind of liking his character. He's good for the Crawleys. I loved this interchange between Isobel, Violet, and Tom.

Tom: “I want to apologize for last night.”

Isobel: “Oh, there’s no need. We know it wasn’t your fault.”

Violet: “You weren’t the first drunk in that dining room, I can assure you.”

Tom: “Only the first Republican.”

Violet: “You’ve got me there.”

Number Two. We have to include the scene between Robert and Cora, don't we, when Robert confesses that he really didn't know how to handle the family finances and has lost everything. (Even I know the first rule of finance: diversify. Oh, Robert, Robert, Robert.)

Anyway, he tearfully confesses his idiocy to his wife and Cora responds surprisingly graciously.

Cora: Oh my dear. How terrible for you.

Robert: It’s not so good for you either.

Cora: Don’t worry about me. I’m an American. Have gun will travel.

Did it seem to you that there were an awful lot of silly American references last night? Maybe Julian Fellowes needs to take a trip over here. I'd gladly show him around Chicago just to prove that the ghost of Al Capone has been put to rest.

Anyway, just after that Robert and Cora share a very sweet exchange. (And, BTW, I'm so happy Robert has put Housemaid Jane behind him.)

Robert: Thank God for you.

Cora: You know what? I’m glad we have a wedding to celebrate. Let’s make sure it’s a great day. If it’s to be our last, let’s make it a wonderful last. And enjoy our lovely home and the lovely people we spend our life among.

Cora may be an American, but she's one of the only ones with some decent perspective.

Number One. We couldn't recap this episode without some Violet quotes now, could we? She and Martha Levinson (played by Shirley MacLaine) have some awesome sparring matches. Didn't you just love this line by Violet, referring to Martha?

“She is like a homing pigeon. She finds our underbelly every time.”

Or how about when Martha sees Violet for the first time? She says, "Oh dear, it seems the war has made old women of us both." To which Violet replies, "I wouldn’t say that. But then, I always keep out of the sun."

Bwahahaha!

Anyway, my favorite line of the evening came as Cora announces to the family that her mother is coming for a visit.

Violet: I’m so looking forward to seeing your mother again. When I’m with her I’m reminded of the virtues of the English.

Matthew: Isn’t she American?

Violet: Exactly.

And with that, I will leave you to contemplate for another week.

Wasn't it fun? Did I miss some of your favorite lines? Tell me in the comments!

Be sure to sign up for email updates or RSS feed so you don't miss any of my Downton Abbey Top Five Lines posts. You can sign up just over there ---------> 

Photos: 1|2|3

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

O.K., you guys.

You know what Sunday is?

It's the day we've been waiting for since, oh, February 19, 2012. The day when the Downton Abbey Christmas episode aired here in the U.S.

Sunday is the day that Downton Abbey Season 3 begins!

Now, I'm not naive enough to think that some of you haven't watched it already. Probably illegally, I might add. But I know you're out there.

You know who you are.

Anyway . . . when last we left the manor, Matthew had just proposed to Mary, Sybil was pregnant with the chauffeur's baby, and Edith was still desperate to be loved by just about anyone.

So many questions still to be answered.

Will Matthew and Mary actually . . . marry?

Will Sybil have her baby? Will she be welcomed back to the manor?

Will Edith ever find true love?

And what about Robert and Cora? I mean, Housemaid Jane nearly ruined them without Cora even noticing anything was wrong. Will Jane show up again? Will the Grantham's attend marital counseling?

#doubtful

And then there's Bates. Dear John Bates, still in jail, and Sweet Anna left behind with her bottom lip quivering. Hopefully all the "Free Bates" t-shirt sales have added something to his legal fund and he'll be able to come back to Lord Grantham, living to brush his shoulders yet another day. But will he be released? We still don't know.

So, if you're a Downton Abbey fan, Sunday is your day. I'm not foolish enough to suggest that ALL of our questions will be answered, but hopefully some of them will.

I haven't watched Season 3 yet. I decided last fall that I wanted to watch each episode in the U.S. as they happen.

So I'll be watching for the first time on Sunday. And on Monday I'll be posting, once again, my Top Five lines from the previous night's episode.

Last year I started posting these recaps sometime in the middle of the season. I had a fantastic response from all of you, so I thought I'd do it again. Besides, these posts are so much fun to write--the Grantham family practically writes them for me!

Just in case you missed some of my Top Five (or Ten) Lines posts, here are the links so you can get caught up.

Top Five Lines from Season 2, Episode 3

Top Five Lines from Season 2, Episode 4

Top Five Lines from Season 2, Episode 5

Top Ten Lines from Season 2, Episode 6

Top Ten Lines from Downton Abbey's Season 2 Christmas Episode

Have fun catching up, and I'll see you on Monday!

Now tell me, what is you favorite Downton Abbey moment so far? What do you hope happens in Season 3? And, please, no spoilers!!

Make sure you don't miss a single moment of Downton Abbey fun over here. Why not sign up to get email updates of Life on the Wild Side? You can do that just over there ------>.

The State of the Blog - 2012 and my Top 12 Posts of the Year

This is weird. I've never done this before. But since I posted so much less in 2012 than I have in previous years, it wasn't that hard to scroll through and find my most popular posts of the year.

But first, a word about the lack of posting.

See, I've never set out to make money at blogging. I've never really had blogging goals at all. I've just enjoyed the space to practice writing, and I've had the double blessing of getting to know some really wonderful people along the way. You. The people who read here.

And then life crept in. I went back to work. My kids got bigger. And busier. And blogging took a back seat to the rest of my life.

It had to.

I was disappointed in what happened last year because as I blogged less, my readership also fell off. It was inevitable; that's what the so-called "experts" will tell you will happen. Even thought I knew it was right--blogging only when I had time and something worth saying--I was sad about it.

I've thought about quitting, but every time I do I'll get a random comment that keeps me going. Someone will say, "Gosh, I really liked what you wrote last week. It meant a lot to me." And I write some more.

What will 2013 bring around here? I have no idea because I have no idea what 2013 will bring in my life. And that's pretty much what I write about. Life.

What I hope it will bring, though, is better writing, better loving, and better living. Because that's what's important to me.

(Oh, and my friend, Lori, keeps asking for more recipes. So I'll try to see what I can do there as well.)

What would YOU like to see around here in 2013?

* * * * * 

And now, my Top 12 Posts of 2012.

I find this list so interesting and kind of anticlimactic. You'll see why in a minute. But I thought it would be fun to go through and see which of my posts got the most readers this year. Any surprises here for you?

12. Letters to My Daughters: Take a Stand. One of my favorite ideas from this year was to begin a series called "Letters to My Daughters." This is the first of the series.

11. Seeing Rightly: What I Learned from my Cleaning Lady Today. Life, death, and tragedy. It's all about having the right perspective.

10. Homesick. I learn so much from my students.

9. Letter to my 16-year-old self. This was written as a link-up to Emily's book launch, but it turned out to be rather cathartic for me.

8. Aslan's Country. Last year my dear friend, Laura, lost her daughter to cancer and our entire neighborhood lost a very special woman. This was my small tribute to Anna.

7. Deliver Us from Evil. My response to the tragedy that struck our nation just a few weeks ago in Newtown, CT.

6. Fabulous Friday Food: Julia's Soft Pretzels. Is it ironic that one of my top posts, a recipe post even!, would be a guest post by my daughter? I love that she got the most food readers of the year.

5. Top 10 Favorite Children's Books to Give for Christmas. I love these books. And I also love that I learned something from this post--that linking up to blog parties is a good thing!

4. To Work? Or Not to Work? Oh boy! Hilary Rosen's comment about Ann Romney prompted a whole slew of thoughts about raising a family and a woman's role.

3. Letters to My Daughters: Pressure. I linked this post to Richella's blog and got a great response. I kinda liked this one too.

2. Top 10 Lines from Downton Abbey, Episode 6. Truthfully, most of my Downton Abbey posts got more readers than the posts I've listed here, but I thought I'd just link up to one of them. I had so much fun writing these, which makes me especially happy because next week the fun will begin again. Oh yes, friends, I'll be writing my Top 10 (or 5) lines posts again starting NEXT SUNDAY!! Woo hoo! Can't wait.

1. Remember earlier when I said that the list might be kind of anticlimactic? Here's why. This post got twice as many hits as the Downton Abbey post, and, to be honest, I have no idea why. I didn't link it to any blog party. I didn't promote it. It was just a little post I wrote last spring about the warm weather. So weird. But, in the spirit of keeping it honest, here's my most popular post from 2012. Two Camps (or, yes, another weather post).

Enjoy!

So tell me, what was one of your most-read posts this year? Feel free to link up to it in the Comments.

Linking to Jo-Lynne's 2012 Blog Recap Carnival.

Catching Up and some Good Reads

Y'all.

December very nearly did me in.

Truly, I woke up every day wondering how I'd get it all done and assessing how much I still had to do. For most of the month my head felt like it was spinning faster than those Chinese acrobats spin those plates high on a pole balanced on their chin while riding a unicycle. Which is how I felt most of the days of December.

I may have dropped a few plates.

But my reward for all the juggling was the week I just spent in Arizona with my family. I'm so grateful for our time together, and even though we sorely missed two family members, one of whom will be delivering a baby in just a few weeks--yea!--we still managed to have a laugh or two.

Here are a couple of highlights.

Julia, who I continue to insist will NOT be getting her driver's permit this spring, learned to drive. I think she should stick to golf carts for at least a couple of years, don't you?

Some of us took an amazing hike in the mountains overlooking Tucson. And may I just say that I'm kind of proud of myself for climbing 1,000 feet over two miles and not feeling absolutely pathetically sore the next day? I'm tough like that.

Here's the view from the top. So cool.

And here's Julia and me, resting on the way down.

We saw Les Miserables on Christmas Day. I'm not sure I've ever gone to a movie on Christmas Day, but this one was worth breaking tradition for. Oh my! Talk about being wrung out after a movie. And every day since, I wake up with a different Les Mis song in my head. Definitely go see it.

Finally, I just want to say how very grateful I am that the Cousins Christmas tradition continues. It's getting trickier as girls graduate and head off to "real" jobs. This year Kira, my niece, flew in late on Christmas Eve and had to go back on the day after Christmas, but she made it and we all loved being together.

Next year? Who knows. All I know is that when the girls were young they came to us and said that they had talked it over and decided that even when they have husbands they always want to have Cousins Christmas.

I hope it continues.

Anyway, here is the whole bunch of cousins, beautiful girls all, and their amazing grandparents, known to me as Mom and Dad. I love this picture so much!

The Christmas festivities continue on Sunday when we host my husband's family here. More cousins, more food, and more fun!

In the meantime, I've been getting caught up on some blog reading and found a couple of posts I want to share with you. Enjoy these Good Reads!

Goodbye 2012: Living with the End in Mind :: Josh Moody. This is a great post from my pastor, Josh Moody, reminding all of us to live intentionally in the year ahead.

I wish every church said what this church says in its bulletin :: Jon Acuff. Wow. Thought-provoking. Challenging. Convicting.

3 things Zig Ziglar told me at lunch :: also Jon Acuff. Oh, if only we could all remember these three simple truths. Think of how the world would change.

Where Was God in All the Goodness of 2012? :: John Piper. So many of us tend to look at all the bad in the world and ask, "Where was God?" This post puts a different spin on that. A spin I much prefer.

I'll be back on Monday with some kind of recap of 2012 post. Until then, enjoy your weekend!

And now, how about YOU? Tell me something about your Christmas in the comments. I'd love to hear about it.

For unto us a Child is born,

unto us a Son is given,

and the Government will be upon His shoulder,

and His name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

the Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Merry, merry Christmas to one and all.

I'll see you in January!

Guest Posting at The Scoop on Balance Today

I was set to be festive and fun, upbeat and funny . . . until the Saturday after Thanksgiving when I found myself sitting at my kitchen table sobbing my eyes out while my poor husband sat nearby, not knowing what to do with me.

It all started just a few days earlier as I sat at a coffee shop planning out our December.

Hostess gifts.

Gifts for the kids, husband, and other family members.

Parties, both to plan and to attend.

Cookies.

Schoolwork.

Papers to grade.

Suddenly I was overcome with the pressure of it all. When would I get it all done? HOW would I get it all done?

* * * * *

Hi there! My sweet friend, Sandy, is one of those people you immediately like. She's funny, just a little sarcastic, and smart. When she asked me to guest post at her place sometime in December, I was thrilled. Little did I know that, after a sleepless night thinking through everything I need to get done before Sunday, I would need to read my own words again today. Pop on over to The Scoop on Balance to read more.

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Linking this post to Richella's Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. 

Deliver Us from Evil

When I walked into the building where I work yesterday, I was greeted with the most glorious sunrise. I was so struck by it that as soon as I put my things in my office, I grabbed my phone and took a few pictures.

 Little did I know, an hour later, all hell would break loose in Connecticut.

We’re never prepared for these things.

One minute we’re enjoying a glorious sunrise, the next, we’re wondering why.

Within minutes, seconds even, of the horrific news being broadcast, my Facebook feed started filling with accusations.

“It’s the guns. If we only got rid of the guns.”

“See? This is what happens when we take prayer out of schools.”

Times like these bring fuel to the fire that lies just beneath our very thin skin.

Here’s the thing. I’m not on the side of those who automatically go to the “we have to take away guns” response. I’m also not on the side of “our kids need to pray in school.”

I’m just trying to see this horrific situation as it is and to call is just what it is: evil.

We’ve stopped talking about evil in our world, but evil is very, very real. And evil is being unleashed at a terrific rate these days. We see it all around us, but we’re afraid to name it.

I’m not a doomsdayer. I’m not a “Church Lady” who finds Satan around every corner. What I am is a Christian who has read her Bible some, and what I see in the gospels is that Jesus is dealing with evil on a daily basis.

When people had physical issues, Jesus cast out demons. Why? Because Jesus recognized that often our issues are more spiritual than we give them credit for.

Some came to Jesus blatantly demon possessed. He cast them out. Because only He can do that.

When the Pharisees tried to blame the parents of a man who was born blind, asking which one of his parents had sinned to bring about this misery, Jesus corrected them and said that nobody has sinned. “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

The works of God displayed in him. In his heart. A change took place and the man was miraculously healed.

Friends, may we be frank? May we see evil as it truly is? There is a spiritual dimension to our lives, and, yes, it’s much more pleasant to talk about the good work that Jesus has done in our lives than to focus on the battle that is waging for our souls. Every day.

I don’t believe that this tragedy was punishment on the people of Newtown, CT. I don’t believe it could have been prevented if people had just prayed more. I don’t even get it much at all, but what I sense is that Satan is having a field day out there, and we Christians aren’t doing much to stop him.

And it’s not just in Newtown. This evil wants to stamp out our own hometowns.

Our churches.

Our families.

Our marriages.

This isn’t a gun problem or even a public prayer problem. It’s a heart problem that we seem to want to ignore. Until hearts are changed, evil will continue to run rampant, Satan will continue to be unleashed, and the spiritual battle will rage.

Praise God that He wins in the end and that He doesn’t leave us helpless. The truth will prevail, and the truth is that God loves us. He loves the people of Newtown, CT. He loves our own broken lives and hearts enough to come to earth to die for us.

The picture is so much bigger than guns or prayer in schools.

What can we do? Ironically, we can pray. At home, alone or with our families. In our churches. In our hearts.

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He reminded them of the evil that’s in this world and instructed them specifically to pray, “Deliver us from evil.” There’s power in that prayer.

We can also do what the sick and the lame did in the days when Jesus could be felt and touched and seen—we can lay ourselves on His mercy. We can come to Him, touch His robes, fall to our knees and beg for mercy. We need it more than ever.

Our children need it.

Our marriages need it.

Our country needs it.

We need it.

I Interrupt this Holiday Season to talk about . . . Twinkies

What is it about Twinkies?

Seems like everyone has gone crazy over Twinkies . . . now that they can’t get them anymore. Even in the past week, long after I thought that Twinkie fever and mourning over Hostess’ demise would have died down, I saw a piece on the news about some Chicago dive, Baby’s Cheesecake and Lemonade, that actually bought up the last of the Twinkies—10,000 of the sweet, gooey cakes—and was giving them away for FREE.

When a reporter asked the owner if it was worth the investment, he replied, “Every penny. It brought you in, didn’t it?”

Smart man. Growing his business on the back of Hostess.

Personally, I don’t get it. I am not sure I’ve even bought ten Twinkies in my lifetime, let alone ten thousand.

But let me tell you, even though I probably played a small part in throwing Hostess under the bus—I bought Twinkies exactly twice—Twinkies and I have a history.

The first time I bought Twinkies was when I was pregnant with my second daughter. I knew she was a girl even before the ultrasound confirmed it because I craved sugar like nothing else. With my first daughter I craved sugar, too—Dove ice cream bars that time—so I just knew she had to be a girl the second time around as well.

With my second, I craved Twinkies. Usually my “craving” consisted of a fleeting thought every day. “Hmmmm, I haven’t had a Twinkie since I was a little girl. I wonder if they’re still good.” “Gee, a Twinkie sure sounds good right about now.” “O.K., I think I just have to have a Twinkie before this pregnancy ends.”

Finally, one day, that small craving became a full-blown obsession. I was at work, teaching young minds, pretending to be interested in modifiers and parallel sentences. But all the while I kept thinking, “Twinkies. Must. Have. Twinkies.”

My students never knew.

I hope.

After work, I drove as fast as I could to the Jewel. I parked my car. I ran as quickly as my chubby ankles would allow, straight into the store. And there I stood, in the middle of the store in the ready position, just like a football player on the line of scrimmage . . . only I was wearing a huge maternity tent dress.

I was like a mad woman.

I finally grabbed a checkout girl by the shoulders, looked deep into her eyes, and screamed, “Where are the Twinkies?!”

It wasn’t pretty. But she directed me to aisle 3.

I quickly purchased the beloved gems—No, I don’t need a bag, thank you—and I ran to the car. I opened the cellophane. No, I tore the cellophane, and gobbled those Twinkies like a starving person who hadn’t eaten in a month.

Thirty seconds of glory, it was.

Worth every calorie. And every ounce of humiliation.

My second encounter with Twinkies actually took place sometime during Kate’s first grade year. She must have heard kids talking at lunch, filed away the information for later, and came home just bursting to ask me a question.

“Mom, what’s a Twinkie?” I think she might have been hopping from one foot to another.

Seriously? That was what she couldn’t wait to ask me? I just had to laugh. Out loud.

And then I asked her to repeat the question.

“What’s a Twinkie?”

Because that was the moment when I realized that I had succeeded as a mom. You see, it took six years—SIX YEARS!!—before my daughter even knew that such a thing existed.

Sure, she had had McDonald’s fries before she turned two, and Teddy Grahams had pretty much become a food group in our home, but my darling six year old didn’t even know what a Twinkie was.

My first Twinkie incident might have been my most humiliating, but the second became one of my proudest Mommy Moments.

And because my poor daughter had been so deprived for six long years (talk about a death sentence!), I bought the child a box of Twinkies on my next trip to the Jewel.

She carefully opened the cellophane, took one long look at the soft yellow cake with its three holes poked in the bottom, and said, “Is this all it is?”

She ate it, satisfied that she had at least taken a stab at the American cultural icon. But then a funny thing happened—the box I bought for her sat . . . and sat . . . and sat in the pantry until one day I finally threw the Twinkies out.

I guess my girl preferred my homemade treats over the ones wrapped in plastic.

My second proudest Mommy Moment.

Now tell me . . . what do YOU think about Twinkies? What’s your favorite Hostess treat? (Mine is the Suzy Q, and I will miss her.)