The weather seems to have settled a bit. Today is sunny and cloudy. The high will be 59˚, but there is no wind so its feels warmish. The dogs love this weather. I’m staying close to home today. I have the ever present laundry sitting in the hall. It is day three.

I find people generally kind. A while back, I tripped in the CVS parking lot. People rushed over and helped me up. I wasn’t hurt, but I felt sort of silly. They were concerned. People are always willing to help me carry heavy packages to my car. I used to say thank you anyway, but now I like the help. Through the eyes of passersby I have move into the category of old lady. On one of my trips to Ghana, I was walking on Main Street and stopping on the way to sit and rest my back. I sat next to a couple of men, one of whom asked me if I liked motos, motorcycles. I told him I used to have one. He offered to take me to where I was going, and I agreed. He ferried me all the way to my destination.

When I was a kid, my town was an easy place to live. We all knew the implicit rules. We didn’t dare disrespect the nuns or we would have faced the wrath of our parents. We were quiet in the library. The worst behavior was when kids threw candy in the movie theater. We were mostly polite.

If I were rich, I’d travel the world. I’d travel to whatever out of the way places are still left. I’d eat local foods and stay in small places. I’d wear casual, comfortable clothes. I’d go to bed early so I can meet the mornings wherever I am. Mornings are my favorites times of the day when I travel. That is when cities first come alive. I remember we were somewhere in Germany. I got up, got dressed and then went outside. It was a bit chilly as mornings sometimes are. Delivery trucks were parked on the street. I could see the exhaust from the backs of those trucks rising into the air. People on the sidewalks hurried. I didn’t. I filled my senses.

Spring is taking a brief hiatus. The morning is cold, only in the mid 40’s. The weather prediction is for partly cloudy, and every now and then the sky lightens behind the clouds, and I can see a bit of blue, but then the clouds return and the light disappears. I don’t mind today despite the chill and the clouds. It is the perfect day to stay home and be warm and cozy. The coffee is hot, and I have chocolate biscotti, perfect for dipping.

My father used to bring donuts home after Sunday mass. Though he never remembered my favorite, I found one or two I liked, lemon and glazed. His favorite was a plain donut. He always buttered it.

My father had quite the sweet tooth. He used to keep a bowl of Hershey miniatures beside him on the table. He hid chocolates under the couch, but we knew his hiding spot and helped ourselves. His favorite ice cream was vanilla drowned in Hershey’s chocolate syrup. When we were in Belgium, I found a wonderful chocolate shop across from our hotel. I bought a bag of chocolate truffles for the road. My father wasn’t enthused as he had never seen a truffle before. I made the mistake of giving him one. While I was driving, I could hear the rustling of the truffle bag. It wasn’t long before the bag was empty.

Every time my parents visited, I made my father a chocolate cream pie, his favorite. He never shared. We didn’t mind because I had made it for him.

My father loved mashed potatoes, creamed onions, cheddar cheese on his slice of apple pie, turkey legs, instant coffee, asparagus from a can, Milk Crackers and anything chocolate. He loved to snack.

We called my mother the seagull. I remember her having a cold hot dog sandwich with cucumbers for breakfast once. She never drank coffee or tea. She drank Diet Coke in the morning. When she visited, I used to give her some hot coffee and a few biscotti. She loved dipping the biscotti into the coffee. Every Christmas I made her orange cookies, her favorite. I remember one Christmas my sister and her family visited. My brother-in-law loved the orange cookies so my mother hid a few. She wasn’t a big sweet eater, but she loved those cookies.

My mother used to make peanut butter balls every Christmas. She used to freeze a few to surprise me long after Christmas. My sister makes them every year. They are one of my favorite Christmas from her. I freeze a few to savor long after Christmas.