BUD HUNT

“Where’d you go?” My son Alex asked me as I was coming around from the side of the house.

“I’m on a bud hunt.” I said as we both headed for the car.

“You were checking to see if the daffodils have come up yet, weren’t you?” He laughed as he opened the car door.

“The green leaves are poking through but no buds yet.” I sighed as I put the key in the ignition.

“It’s still March.” Alex reminded me as he pulled his seat belt across his chest. “It’s not even officially spring until the 20th.”

“But we’ve had some warm days so I guess I’m just getting anxious to start seeing more signs that spring is on its way.” We backed out of the driveway and I pointed to the neighbors’ weeping willow tree, its leaves now a chartreuse color. “See, that’s what I’m talking about! One of the first trees to show signs that spring is on its way.” I looked over at Alex. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

Alex pointed to a tree further up the street that had a hint of deep red on its branches. “There’s another one getting ready to pop.”

I looked up to where he was pointing. “That’s a silver maple. Another one that has early buds on it.” As I slowly drove down our street I was busy scanning the neighborhood for more signs. “See? It’s not too early to start checking.”

We passed a neighbors’ lilac bush.

“I see buds starting on that one!” Alex said as he looked in his side mirror back towards our house. “That’s funny I didn’t see our lilac with any buds on it yet.”

“We have a purple lilac and theirs is white. I noticed it a few years back that theirs always blooms a few weeks ahead of ours.” I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head. “I have no idea why.”

We were out of the neighborhood and out on the main road. I pointed up to the leafless trees we were passing. “All these trees are covered in wisteria vines. It won’t be long before clusters of purple flowers will be hanging from them.” I looked over at Alex. “They’re definitely one of my top ten favorite scents.”

Alex laughed. “I know. You pick some every year and put them in the kitchen.”

“They only last a few days in water but it reminds me of our old house with the wisteria right outside the kitchen door. I’d have the windows open so I could smell them while I was cooking.” I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s not exactly the same, having them in a glass of water next to the sink, but it’s a close second.”

I opened my window a few inches to feel the cool breeze. “Ever since we moved the clocks ahead last weekend I’ve just gotten more and more ready for spring to be here.”

Alex reached over and patted me on the shoulders. “It’ll be here before you know it.”

“Well, it’s dragging its feet!” I called out the window. “Bring on the sounds of some spring peepers, please!”

CLEAN SHEET NIGHT

I’d been busy doing laundry most of the morning. When the load with my sheets came out of the dryer I threw them on my bed, planning on putting them on later.

Hours went by when I finally went back in my bedroom and was surprised to see that the bed had already been made.

“Alex!” I called to my son. “Did you make my bed?”

Alex came into the room. “It wasn’t me. It must have been Dad.”

I went to find Steven who was sitting at his desk going through the mail. “Did you make our bed?” I asked.

He looked up for a second from the letter he was reading. “Yeah. I was getting something out of the closet and I saw the sheets on the bed.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I figured I’d save you some time and put them on for you.” He placed the letter on top of a pile and picked up another piece of mail.

“Seriously?” I went over and hugged him around his neck. “That’s so sweet of you!” I gave him a kiss on the cheek.

He stopped what he was doing and smiled. “Hey, I’m glad I could help.”

“I can’t tell you how happy that made me when I walked in a saw that I had one less chore to do today.” I sat down on the edge of his desk. “I was just reading an article that said that there are five types of love language.”

Steven nodded his head. “Which are?”

I began listing them with my fingers, starting with my thumb. “Physical touch, acts of service, words of affirmation, gifts, and quality time.” I held up my pointer finger. “I’m pretty sure I just found out that ‘acts of service’ is one of my favorites!”

Steven laughed as he got up from his chair and gave me a hug. “So you’re saying me making the bed is better than if I bought you flowers?”

“Oh, I never said that!” I laughed as I stepped back and patted him on his chest. “I think all of them are my favorites!”

We could hear the buzzer go off on the dryer.

“Well, that’s my cue to put another load in the washing machine.” I turned to head for the laundry room but quickly turned back to give him a kiss on the cheek. “I’m serious. That was a really nice surprise. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He sat back down at his desk.

I was headed for the laundry room when I heard him call out. “Do you want to get some take-out for dinner? So you don’t have to cook.”

I stopped in my tracks and turned around. “Really? I was going to make chicken but not having to cook would be awesome!”

“Consider it done. We’ll order from the diner.”

I couldn’t help but do a little ‘happy dance’ on the way to the laundry room. “No cooking and clean sheet night without having to make the bed!” I pumped my fists in the air. “Best day ever!”

I could hear Steven laughing. “You’re sure easy to please.” He called out.

“Chicken Parmesan that I don’t have to cook!” I called back. “Heck yeah! I’m easy to please!”

MADE FROM SCRATCH

I had just lined up a half dozen mason jars on the kitchen counter when my son Alex came into the room.

“What are you up to?” He asked as I began pulling spices from the cabinet.

“I’m making homemade ranch, taco and gravy mixes.” I shook the container of chili powder to make sure I had enough. “I’m going to start with the taco mix.” I opened the drawer and took out the measuring spoons. “I’m going to double the recipe so I won’t have to make it as often.”

I pulled out the cumin, onion powder, and paprika, checking their expiration dates before putting them next to the mason jars.

Alex picked up the chili powder and looked at the lid. “I’m glad you’re checking the expiration date first.” He started to laugh before he put the spice with the others. “That’s new for you.”

I had to laugh myself. “That’s because I’ve always counted on you to do that for me.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I prefer to use the sniff test instead of a date stamped on a lid.”

“But when spices get older they lose their potency.”

I shrugged my shoulders again. “To each his own.” I began measuring each spice before tapping the measuring spoon on the edge of the jar. I looked back at the recipe card. “Can you get the garlic powder, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper?”

Alex opened the cabinet and took out the containers, giving the expiration date a quick scan before putting them on the counter.

When I’d gotten all the spices in the jar I put the lid on and gave it a quick shake to combine all the spices together. “There!” I said as I held the jar out to him. “Taco seasonings without all the preservatives and things I can’t even pronounce in it!”

I handed the jar to Alex. “Now let’s do the ranch seasoning next.”

We gathered all the ingredients together and put them in another mason jar. Giving it a quick shake I put it in the cabinet next to the taco mix.

“Now I just have to do the gravy mix and we’re done.” I pulled out the ingredients and then stopped and looked over at Alex. “I had to change this recipe a little bit.”

“Why?” Alex said as he handed me the bag of flour.

“Because you’re suppose to add bouillon powder to this mix but when I went to the store get some they were all loaded with a long list of preservatives.” I shook my head. “How’s that suppose to be better for you?”

“So what are you going to do instead?” Alex asked as he handed me the measuring spoon.

“When I’m ready to use it I’ll just mix the dry ingredients with some beef stock instead.” I put the lid on the last one and gave it a quick shake before handing it to Alex to put in the cabinet.

“Okay.” I quickly brushed any powder left on my hands over the garbage can. “I think I’m in the mood for some tacos tonight.” I looked over at Alex. “What about you?” Alex got the taco mix we’d just made out of the cabinet and handed it to me. “Sounds good to me.”

“We’re not going to use this one yet.” I took the jar from him and put it back in the cabinet. “I have a few of the store bought packets left that I want to use up first.”

Alex laughed. “Are you serious?”

“Absolutely.” I took the packet from cabinet and gave it a quick shake. “I want to eat healthier, but I also believe in not wasting money.”

A RESOLUTION I CAN KEEP

“I think I’ve found my New Year’s resolution for this year.” I said as I stepped back and admired the kitchen drawer I’d just cleaned out.

My son Alex came into the room. “You know it’s almost March, right? I don’t think anyone is talking about New Year’s resolutions anymore.”

“Exactly! That’s because no one can keep one past January!” I pulled open the glass storage container drawer. “I cleaned this out a few weekends ago and now I’ve moved on to the junk drawer.”

“Which junk drawer?”

I pointed to the one that used to keep all the take out menus, birthday candles, batteries, and bird identifier books. “This one didn’t make any sense.” I opened the drawer to show him what I’d accomplished. “But now I’ve decided it’s the bird books, binoculars, and birthday candles drawer!”

He looked back at me. “Where’s everything else?”

I pointed to the garbage pail where stacks of take-out menus were on the top.

“What? You threw out the take-out menus! Why?” Alex went over to the garbage pail to see the dozens upon dozens of menus laying on top.

“When was the last time we used one of them?” I asked as I put my hands on my hips, ready to justify my action.

Alex thought about it for a second before he shrugged his shoulders. “That’s true.” He looked over at several items that were laying on a paper towel on the counter top. “What’s that all about?” He picked up what looked to be some kind of filter.

“That’s the I-don’t-know-what-it-is pile. I’m waiting for your Dad to let me know if he recognizes any of it.”

My husband Steven came into the kitchen. “What do you need me to recognize?”

I pointed to the items on the paper towel. “I found those in the drawer I just cleaned out. Do I need to save any of those?”

Steven picked through the pile finally holding up a long plastic tube. “We need to keep this.” He said as he handed it to me and started to walk away.

“Wait!” I called after him holding up the item. “What is this?”

“I’m pretty sure it goes with the food processor.” He called over his shoulder.

“The food processor?” I looked more closely at the tube. “What’s this have to do with the food processor?”

“I can’t remember right now. But we need to keep it.” He said as he walked out of the room.

I looked over at Alex. “Okay.” I sighed as I tossed it back in my newly organized drawer. “But this is exactly how a junk drawer continues.”

“Hey.” Alex patted me on the shoulder. “I think this resolution is really working for you.”

I smiled. “You do? Thanks.”

He opened up the spice cabinet. “Wow!” He could see all the spices lined up in size order, each label facing forward. “When did you do this one?”

“Last night before I went to bed.” I reached over his shoulder to adjust one of the spices. “All the expired ones are in the trash and everything else is lined up ready to use!”

Alex nodded his head. “I’m really liking this.” He looked over at me and smiled. “So when do you think you’re going to clean out the freezer?”

I shook my head slowly back and forth. “Baby steps, Mister. We’re on baby steps right now.”

STRETCH FIRST

“Oh, no!” I cried as I hobbled into the living room holding the back of the couch with one hand while the other hand was resting on my lower back. “I threw out my back!”

My son Alex and husband Steven looked at me as I gently lowered myself onto the couch wincing as I did so.

“How’d you do that?” Alex asked as he got up from his chair. “I’ll go get the heating pad.” He went to the hall closet.

“It must have been when I scraped the slush off the cars this afternoon.” I was having a hard time taking a deep breath without the pain shooting down both my legs. “It just hit me now out of nowhere.”

“You scraped off the cars?” Steven said as he got me a pillow and placed it behind my back. “Why didn’t you call me? I would have gone out and done it.”

“Because it didn’t seem like such a big deal when I did it.”

By now Alex was plugging in the heating pad. “What strength do you want me to put it on?” He asked as he lowered it between the pillow and my back.

“Put it on high.” I said as I felt like a knife was twisting in my back as I tried to find a comfortable spot. “Oh my gosh.” I began to shake my head. “All I can think about is my Mom saying her back was ‘slaying her’ whenever she was laying on the couch.” I looked over at Steven. “I can’t believe I’m paying for all those years I’d rolled my eyes whenever she said that.” I winced again trying to find a comfortable spot to sit.

“Did you do any stretches before you went outside to shovel?” Steven asked as he sat down next to me.

I winced as just the small movement of him sitting on the cushion next to me had me trying to catch my breath.

“I’m sorry.” Steven said as he looked over at me. “What can I do?”

“I’m not really sure.” I could feel the heat from the heating pad begin to work it’s way through my sweatshirt. “Let me just sit here for a minute and see if it goes away.”

Steven looked over at Alex before he looked back at me. “It’s not just going to go away. It’s going to take a few days before it feels better.”

“Are you serious?” I tried to take a full breath.

“You’ve never hurt your back before?” Steven asked looking surprised.

“Not like this.” I winced again.

“Well, now that you’re getting older you’re going to have to do some stretches before you do any physical labor like shoveling snow.”

I slowly turned my head to face him. “Now that I’M getting older?”

Steven held up his hands. “Hey, I’m right there with you. I do stretches every morning so that I don’t hurt my back.”

“Can we not talk about stretches right now.” I adjusted the heating pad. “I’m just wondering how I’m going to get my socks on for work tomorrow.”

LUNCH OR WEIGHTLIFTING

“Okay. That looks beautiful!” I said as I stood next to my son Alex as we looked in the Tupperware drawer. It no longer housed plastic containers but, was now filled with only glass containers instead.

I looked over at Alex. “They say the glass containers are healthier to eat out of.”

Alex started to laugh. “How long have I been telling you that?”

“I know.” I shook my head. “I just never got around to changing them over.” I proudly waved my hand across the drawer, presently the neatly stacked square and round containers, showcasing my work like a prize on the Price Is Right. “But now that I have I’m happy we did.”

I pulled two out to put my lunch in for the next day. The smaller one got a scoop of yogurt in it while the larger one was filled with a salad.

‘I’m all ready for work tomorrow.” I said as I slid them in the refrigerator.

The next morning I was finishing my cup of tea while I filled my metal thermos with water.

Alex walked in the kitchen. “How’d you sleep?” He asked as he got his coffee cup out of the cabinet.

“Pretty good. How about you?” I placed the thermos at the bottom of my lunchbox before opening the refrigerator to grab my two glass containers with my lunch in them. “I’m ready to start using healthier food containers!”

I put them in my lunchbox before opening the freezer to get an ice pack. Once that on the top I zipped it up and went to lift it off the counter. “Wow!” I said as I quickly grabbed the lunchbox with both hands. “These glass containers really make a difference in the weight!” I was about to haul it over to where the rest of the work bags were.

“I suppose it would.” Alex said as he measured the coffee and placed it in the filter.

“I’m serious! This is really heavy!” Instead of placing it with the other bags I went down the hall to my bedroom. “I’m going to put it on the scale and see how much it weighs.” I called over my shoulder.

A few moments later I was back in the kitchen. “Can you believe this thing weighs six pounds!” I cried as I hefted it back on the counter. “Am I bringing lunch to work or a dumbbell to work out with?”

“Maybe it could be both.” Alex laughed. “Do a set of bicep curls, a few lateral raises and throw in some tricep kickbacks and you’ll get a pretty good arm workout before you eat lunch.” He looked over at me and raised his eyebrows. “You’re always complaining that you don’t have time to work out.” He pointed to my lunchbox. “You’re taking workout equipment to work with you now.”

I looked back at my lunchbox, picked it up with one hand, and lifted into a bicep curl. Placing it back on the counter I looked at Alex. “You might be on to something.” I hauled it off the counter and went to place it with my other work bags.

Putting my coat on I grabbed my pocketbook, work bag, laptop bag, and finally my new weightlifting lunchbox. “Okay.” I sighed as I adjusted some of the bags on my shoulder. “I think I’m ready to go!”

Alex followed me to the front door. “I’ll lock the door for you.”

“Thanks.” I turned around to give him a kiss on the cheek when one of my bag slipped off of my shoulder.

Alex pulled the straps back up for me and patted me on the shoulder. “You’ve got this.”

“I sure hope so.” I said as I switched my lunchbox from one hand to the other and did a quick bicep curl. “I’ve just got to remember to keep this lunchbox workout even on both my arms.”

HOUSE GUEST

“WINSTON’S HERE!” I called out as I saw the car pull into our driveway.

Winston is a little black Shih Tzu mix that was going to be our house guest for the weekend.

I opened the front door and watched as he scampered up to me wearing his little plaid coat. He stopped for a quick head scratch before coming in and exploring the house.

“Here’s some of his stuff.” Our friend Kathy said as she followed him in. “Riki has everything packed in there.” She handed me his overnight bag then went back to the car to get more of his things.

When she came back in we tucked his bed under the coffee table and set up his steps next to the couch.

“Be a good boy.” Kathy said as she gave Winston a few scratches under his chin before heading back to her car.

“Have fun!” I called as Winston and I stood at the door to say good-bye.

Once the car left the driveway I looked down at Winston. “Let’s get your coat off and get comfy on the couch. Doesn’t that sound good?”

Winston began wagging his tail. We’d had him as a house guest before and we knew as he was getting older he’d gotten more anxious when he was left alone. I was planning on spending a lot of time on the couch with him while he was staying with us. He was going to be my perfect excuse to lay around all weekend watching television.

I tossed a quilt on the couch and put most of his toys in the middle of it. I was holding his favorite well-loved bear that he quickly grabbed in his mouth and made his way up the stairs to deposit it in the middle of the quilt himself. Circling around a few times he settled in for a little rest.

I plopped down next to him and grabbed the remote. “So what are you in the mood to watch?”

He looked over at me gave a quick bark and went back to playing with his toys.

“My choice! Why thank you!” I began channel surfing.

A few hours in I realized I needed to run a few errands.

“Alex!” I called to my son. “Can you watch Winston for a little bit? I have to run out.”

Alex came out of his room. “Sure.”

I got up off the couch and Winston got up with me. “No. No. Don’t get up.” I said to him. “Alex is going to stay with you.”

Alex sat next to him and began giving him scratches while I went to grab a few things out of my bedroom.

When I came back I opened the hall closet to grab my coat and went to slip on my shoes, that had been by the front door, when I noticed one was missing.

“That’s funny.” I said as I looked around. “Where’s my other shoe?”

I could hear Alex laughing from the couch. “I think Winston doesn’t want you to leave.”

“What?” I went over to the couch and saw Winston sitting on the quilt with my shoe in his mouth.

“Oh my gosh. Riki says he does that to her all the time!” I went over to him to give him some kisses on the top of his head. “I feel so honored! I’m one of your shoe hiding humans!”

I took the shoe from his mouth and looked over at Alex. “Promise me you won’t leave him for a second.”

“Promise.” He said as he reached for the remote.

I slipped my shoe on and headed for the door. “I promise I’ll be quick!” I called as I closed and locked the door.

I could hear Winston barking as I walked to my car. While I was starting the car I looked back at the house and could see he’d climbed on the back of the couch and was looking out the window. “You shoe hiding little cutie! I’ll be back before you know it!” I called to him.

GOOD-BYE LITTLE FRIEND

“How’s Gary doing?” I asked as I walked into the kitchen.

My son Alex was standing at our butcher’s block where our fish tank is, watching our Beta fish, Gary, slowly swimming around.

“Not too good.” Alex said as he put the fish flakes back on top of the tank. “He wouldn’t eat this morning.”

“I’m sorry.” I looked at Gary, who’s brightly colored scales were beginning to dim. “He’s a little old man now.”

“Yeah,” Alex sighed. “I remember when you brought him home.” Alex shook his head and laughed. “You had the biggest smile on your face as you held out the cup he was swimming in with one hand while you took a sip of your Chi tea with the other.”

I had to smile as well. “I do seem to make some pretty crazy purchases when I’m hyped up on sugar and caffeine”

“That’s for sure.” He went over to get his cup of coffee. “Remember that time we were in the mall? You had barely finished your Chi tea when you insisted I buy some snow pants.”

“Hey. They’d predicted that it was going to be a really snowy winter!” I cried. “I was just worried about you staying warm.”

“It wasn’t like I was going to be going out in the snow to play! I was in my twenties!”

“Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.” I shrugged my shoulders. “But I guess that was a Chi tea fail on that one.”

I looked over at the tank as Gary slowly swam to the bottom of it and settle down next to his pineapple house. “But Gary was certainly a Chi tea win. He’s been a fun little friend.” I looked over at Alex. “Remember how frantic he was when we first got him?”

“He would almost jump out of the water when I would feed him.” Alex went over to the tank to take a closer look at him.

“He was an absolute beast when I was trying to net him so we could clean out his tank.” I added.

“He was quick.” Alex agreed.

Gary started to move around in the tank and began to come up to the hatch at the top of the tank.

“Quick! Get his food!” I cried. “He’s ready to eat!”

Alex put his coffee cup down on the counter and went over to the sink to wash his hands.

“We don’t have time for that!” I handed Alex the food container. “We’ve only got a second!”

Alex quickly opened the container and took out a pinch of the flakes. Opening the hatch he sprinkled the flakes on top of the water.

Gary ate some of the flakes then floated back down to his pineapple house.

“YES!” I cried as I turned to Alex and raised my hand for a high five.

Alex give me a high five as he put the flake container back on the top of the tank.

My husband Steven came into the room. “What are you two celebrating?”

“Gary ate his breakfast!” I said as I gave Steven a hug.

“He’s a little fighter.” Alex added as he picked up his coffee cup once again.

“He definitely is.” I said as I went over to the tank to watch him as he settled in for a little nap.

SAVE THE LEFTOVERS

My husband Steven and our son Alex were sitting at the dinner table. I passed Steven the bowl of rice. “By the way, I made extra rice so we can have it tomorrow with a beef stir fry I’m making.”

Steven took the bowl from me and began serving himself. “Wow. There’s a lot of rice here.”

I was confused. “That’s because I made extra for the stir fry I’m making tomorrow.” I repeated.

Steven nodded his head and passed the bowl to Alex.

It was the next day, when my stir fry was almost cooked, that I went to the refrigerator to get the leftover rice. Moving items out of the way I searched the shelves.

Steven came into the kitchen. “Boy, something sure smells good.”

“Have you seen the leftover rice from last night?” I was still searching.

“I had it last night with my soup.” Steven said as he went over to the pan on the stove and gave the stir fry a mix before before reaching in to grab a slice of green pepper.

“Ugh!” I slammed the refrigerator closed. “I told you yesterday that I was going to use that with tonight’s dinner!” I stormed over to the cabinet to get the bag of rice out. “Now I’ve got to make a whole new batch.” I slammed the bag of rice on the counter and angrily tugged at the drawer where the pots were.

“I’m sorry. I heard you say you made extra.” Steven took the pot out of my hands before I could slam it on the stove. “I must of stopped listening after that. Don’t worry. I’ll make the rice.”

“It’s not just that.” I sighed as I turned the stir fry off and leaned against the counter. “I try and plan meals ahead of time, making extra pasta or vegetables so I can use it in another meal and they just keep disappearing before I get a chance to use them.”

Alex came out to the kitchen. “Something sure smells good.”

“Well, dinner’s not going to be for another twenty minutes.”

“I forgot and ate the leftover rice.” Steven said as he began to pour the rice in a measuring cup.

Alex went over to the drawer, pulled out some blue painters tape, and handed it to me. “I keep telling you to use this. I put the date on it and tape it to my containers in the fridge.”

Steven looked over as he poured the water in the pan. “I think that’s a good idea.” He nodded over at the tape. “When it’s late and I’m hungry I forget what’s being saved and what isn’t.”

“You’re right.” I said as I took the tape from him. I opened the refrigerator and began putting piece of tape on all the containers I wanted for other meals. “Anything with blue tape on it is off limits!” I called over my shoulder.

Satisfied that I’d gotten everything in the refrigerator I moved to the pantry.

Several minutes later I returned to the kitchen. “I think I got everything.” I sighed as I put the tape back in the drawer. I looked over at Alex. “I feel a lot better. Thanks for thinking of it.”

“No problem.” He patted me on the shoulder.

“The rice is ready!” Steven began spooning it in the bowl.

“Perfect.” I turned the heat back on the stir-fry. “This should only take a few minutes.”

Steven put the bowl of rice on the table. “I forgot my water glass in the living room.”

He came back with his water glass in one hand and the television remote in the other. “Why is there blue tape on the remote?”

I looked over and smiled. “Because there’s a movie I want to watch later and I’m claiming the television.”

Steven looked over at Alex who shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know what to say.”

MOMENT ON THE LIPS

I was standing in the kitchen by a large unopened box of candy when my son Alex came into the room.

“Are you finally going to open that?” he asked, pointing to the candy.

I sighed. “Not yet.”

“Wow! You’re certainly showing a lot of willpower.”

“It’s not willpower at all.” I pushed the box away and walked over to the tissue box on the counter. “It’s this stupid stuffy nose!” Pulling out a few tissues from the box I turned and faced away from him while I blew my nose. “It’s been going on for weeks now.” Tossing the tissues in the trash I went to the sink to wash my hands. “Can’t taste it so why waste it.” I finished washing, turned the water off, and pulled a couple of paper towels off the roll.

Alex laughed. “Well, that’s a catchy saying! Can’t taste it so why waste it!”

“It’s true! But…” I tossed the paper towel in the trash and held up my finger as I began to laugh. “When I can finally taste again I’m going to go with the saying of ‘a moment on the lips forever on the hips!” I began shaking my head still laughing. “And I’m not going to care in the least because I just want to taste chocolate again.”

“Why don’t you go to the doctors?” Alex leaned against the counter as I went to the refrigerator and took out the water pitcher.

“What’s a doctor going to do?” I poured myself a glass of water then held the pitcher out to him. “You want a glass?”

“Sure.” Alex reached into the cabinet and grabbed a glass and handed it to me.

“It’s not an infection. It’s a stuffy nose that comes and goes all day long. My body just needs to fight it on it’s own.”

Alex took a sip of water before putting his glass on the counter top. “Hasn’t it been going on for weeks?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Yeah, but I think it’s getting better now.”

“You’ve been saying that for a while.” Alex reminded me.

“It is getting better. But the recovery is just moving at snail’s pace.” I shrugged my shoulders again. “But this stuffy nose has come with a perk!”

Alex laughed. “Really? What’s that?”

“I went through the entire holiday season and didn’t gain a pound!” I grabbed my glass and went into the living room where my husband Steven was sitting on the couch.

“I wish I could say that.” Steven said as he moved over to make room for me to sit down. “I’ve got a couple of pounds to lose from the holidays.”

“I’ll be right with you once I can taste again.” I put my glass on the coffee table and sat next to him.

“Why don’t you go to the doctors?” He asked.

“I just asked her the same thing.” Alex said as he sat in the chair across from us.

“Listen you two. I’m fine! It’s a stuffy nose. In some ways it’s been a blessing!”

Steven looked confused. “A blessing?”

“It’s kept me out of all the treats that have come into the house these last few weeks.” I looked over at Steven. “I figure by the time I can taste again you’ll have gone through most of them and I’ll only have that box of chocolates to worry about.” I pointed to the box on the counter.

“Well,” Steven laughed. “I’m happy to do my part.”