When I was but barely a teen, my sister Cindy led a Thursday night youth group at our small church. We would get together in the evenings and study the Bible, and every other Thursday or so we went to visit the Old Folks Homes, I know its not the PC term, but if you expect that you are at the wrong blog. My sister Cindy was the absolute best dessert maker in the world. I say was as my eyes develop a leak, because Cindy left to make cookies in heaven back in 2006. On these "mission" outings, which I truly believe were a gift to the people we visited, We would take treats along to the "Old Folks." I know its hard to believe we were allowed to bring in outside food to the patients, but this was back before the Country had lost its mind. We would sing to them, and my musical sisters would play the piano and or guitars. The "Old Folks" loved it.
One night in particular I will never forget, it was probably 81, and Cindy had made sugar cookies and my all time favorite, Banana Cookies with Pink Icing. Being a future marine at the time, I didn't care for the color pink, but that is what color she made those cookies and thats what made them so tasty. So while no one can make Banana Cookies Like Cindy made, to me, they will always be "Banana Cookies with Pink Icing."
That night, There was an older, taller, gentleman (maybe he wasn't tall, but I was a kid) in the audience and he kind of went unnoticed (probably his plan) until the cookies were on the table. All of the sudden out of his seat, he rushed up and grabbed a handful of cookies, quickly cramming them in his mouth like they were Nathan's Hot Dogs and it was Independence Day on Coney Island. The nurses bum rushed him and took the cookies from his hand, but try as they might, his jaw was clenched and they weren't about to take the loot, i mean cookies, from his mouth without losing a digit.
They told every one there he couldn't have them, He had "Sugar" as diabetes is known in the sticks where I grew up. they told him they were bad for him he could die.
I will never forget his reply, " I'm old, my wife is dead, my kids are dead, my grandkids don't come visit me, and you won't met me have cookies. What do I want to stay alive for?"
To the best of my my memory, he was a WW1 veteran.
There is a lesson here somewhere if i could only find it.
Be safe, visit old people, you may learn something. Oh yeah and eat the cookie.
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