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How Many Uses are There For That Dreaded Holiday Fruitcake?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. BK629999

Here's to you Dawn by Sandy Shores

Fruitcake.  Do you know anyone that buys fruitcake or even eats the stuff?   Some fruitcakes look very unappealing. Does anyone really know what's in a fruitcake, besides fruit?  And, why are they so heavy?

Earlier this week I ran into the store to do a bit of Christmas shopping. Every year I stop and pick up a loaf, a bar, a log, a brick of fruitcake.  My mother in law, Dawn, liked fruitcake, so we gave her one each year for Christmas.  We used to laugh about it all the time.  "You know, Dawn, I think you're the only one I've ever met that likes this stuff.  Hang on tight to it, because if you drop it, it will break your foot," I would kid.  She had such a great sense of humor.

But, this year, I won't be buying any fruitcake, because Dawn passed away in March 2009.  The thought saddens me. 

But, in the spirit of fun, and remembering Dawn's dynamic personality and incredible sense of humor I had to think of all the uses for a fruitcake:

You could use it as a pin cushion.

You could use it as a paperweight.

You could use it as a hockey puck.

You could use it as a door holder.

You could use it as a step during your aerobics workout.

You could use it to hold your knives.

You could use it as a Christmas tree stand.

You could give one as a gag gift to someone with braces.

Floridians could use them as sand bags during the next tropical storm.

You could send one to school for your child's next science experiment, and have them dissect it to see what really is in a fruitcake.

I know that Dawn would be laughing it up right now, going over all the great uses for her favorite fruitcake.

Can anyone think of anything else you can do with a fruitcake?

 

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations. I can help with Short Sales and Foreclosures.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

 

John Walters
Frank Rubi Real Estate - Slidell, LA
Licensed in Louisiana

Sandy I love it.  This has to be one of your best.  I like the sandbag one.  I HATE fruitcake.

Dec 18, 2009 02:03 AM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Really now. Who DOES like this stuff? And why do they even make it anymore?!!! Actually, I think there's really only one of them and people just keep passing it off on those they don't really like at the holidays!!!

Dec 18, 2009 02:04 AM
Steve Merson 512 412 1621
Keller Williams Realty - Austin, TX
CNE, e-PRO

Hi Sandy,

So sorry that Dawn has passed away but that is a wonderful post in her memory.

I love fruitcake.......especially with a nice cup of tea.......well I am English you know!!  LOL

Steve

Dec 18, 2009 02:11 AM
Mary Ann Daniell Realtor
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors - Subsidiary of NRT LLC - Killeen, TX
Delivering Successful Results Since 1999

Sigh .. My husband and I may have to enter the Witness Protection Program after admitting this, but we love fruitcakes from the Colin Street Bakery in Corsicana, TX.   My dad always gave them at Chrismas.  We bought one before Thanksgiving and the remains are still lolling around in the pantry waiting for a good cup of coffee to show up!

Dec 18, 2009 02:14 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

My mother in law put so much rum in our fruit cake, you can get a DUI just for having it in your car (Fumes!)
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Paul

Dec 18, 2009 02:41 AM
Tom Boos
Sine & Monaghan Realtors, Real Living - Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Providing the very best of service to Sellers and

I harbored a dislike for fruitcake throughout my entire life UNTIL one Christmas when I was urged by a client to try a piece.  I was visiting my Client at Christmas-time to offer my good wishes and she asked me to come in and "have a seat".  Being a good hostess she offered me some coffee and brought-out a tray of holiday cookies and the dreaded sliced fruitcake.  She then INSISTED that I eat some fruitcake.  Reluctantly, I complied.  Surprisingly, it actually tasted good!  She told me that it was purchased from some monastery out West where the monks donothing but make these wonderful fruitcakes all year long.  I've never eaten it since and I've lost the name of the monastery, but I did learn a lesson on that occasion not to be too quick to judge.

Dec 18, 2009 07:04 AM
Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate
M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hi John, Well I have quite a dislike for fruitcake too.  Thanks for the kudos.

Hey Craig, I never really thought of it that way - that there's one fruitcake that everyone passes off to someone they don't like - probably true, that's why it gets hard as a rock and looks stale.  LOL

Oh Steve, I'm sorry, you fruitcake lover, I hope I didn't offend you. I didn't think anyone liked it at all.

Mary Ann, Hmmm, so you like fruitcake too.  I guess you have to find the right kind of fruitcake.  Maybe they all shouldn't be treated equal.

Santa, You crack me up - too funny - I have heard of putting lots of rum in the fruitcake - wow, sounds like you were all knee walking drunk after having a piece - LOL

Tom, Fruitcake made by monks in a monastery. Really!  I have never heard of that.  Well, they must be good, huh?

Dec 18, 2009 12:48 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Sandy

Paul's mother in law had the right idea.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Dec 18, 2009 01:15 PM
Ann Hayden 636-399-7544
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri - Des Peres, MO
SelectAnn.com

Sandy,

I know how difficult the holidays can be when we lose a loved one.  I know she is smiling down on you and your family...at just the thought you would post about her love of fruitcake.

Merry Christmas,

Ann

Dec 18, 2009 03:03 PM
Teresa Berry
Seattle, WA

Love this Sandy! Now whenever fruitcake is the topic....you'll think of Dawn and the humor you shared with her over it. That's a good fun memory! Don't now if it's true but I heard the reason they're so 'hard' is from being saved and re-gifted for years on end....:D

Dec 18, 2009 04:43 PM
Caren Wallace
Premier Property Group LLC - Tualatin, OR
Portland Caren Real Estate

Sandy, I am so sorry for your loss, but her love of fruitcake made for a great post! Love the last idea of using it for flood control!! Hahahahahahahaha!

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS....PEACE IN THE NEW YEAR!

Dec 18, 2009 11:26 PM
Goodbye Active Rain
Out of Real Estate

I really like the idea of a pincushion!  That's a good one Oompa!

Dec 19, 2009 02:09 AM
John Mayer
Oikos Realty, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach Florida - Cocoa Beach, FL
Your Beach Area Expert

Sandy - I have tried some moist fruitcake that wasn't too bad but generally I don't like the stuff. My suggestion? Feed it to the fruit bats at the Zoo.

Dec 19, 2009 08:26 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Sandy, very sorry to hear about Dawn's passing earlier in the year. I actually like fruitcake, but it alternatively can be used as a doorstop. Don't hold it against me that I like fruitcake. You already know I am different ; )

Dec 20, 2009 08:23 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Sandy, you are too funny! and from what you have said about Dawn, I know she is laughing about this post!  I know you all will miss her this Christmas. 

If I had a fruitcake, I would eat a piece for Dawn, I like fruitcake :-)  There is a fruitcake throwing contest somewhere around here, I heard the advertisement for it,  that's another thing to add to your list :-) 

Dec 20, 2009 11:57 AM
Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate
M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hi Lou, You're right - Paul is hysterical - I would be on floor for sure, after a piece of that.

Ann, Dawn was incredible!  She would be laughing her head off!  She's in our thoughts.

Teresa, There are so many great memories of Dawn.

Caren, We laughed about so many things with Dawn - and those memories will always be with us.

Hey TOTO, I'll send you one -so you can use it as a pincushion.

Hi John, I love your great idea of taking it to the zoo for the bats.

Gary, Yes, we do know that you're different - but it's a blessing in your case!  You're terrific!  I promise, I won't tell anyone that you like fruitcake -LOL (I just did).

Hey Mary, Oh my gosh - a fruitcake throwing contest -you could knock someone unconscious with the stuff.

 

 

 

Dec 25, 2009 02:06 AM