We lost a colleague and a friend yesterday.....it was a sad day...I have lost a parent and no matter how much you know that the time will come, that an illnesss has overcome a willing spirit, the grief and mourning sets in and the ordeal of planning the funeral and calling people, the details of the arrangements can be dizzying and stressful.
A few days before, while grocery shopping, I had a premonition that someone we knew was going to need some "comfort food" and I added the ingredients for the meal to my cart....hoping I was wrong but wanting to be prepared if I was right. A meal sounds like a little thing....when you are in the throws of emotional trauma, having one less thing to do and knowing someone thought enough to help you at this time was to me, a huge comfort....and so that is what we do. We always have a large supply of disposable pans and dishes so that returning them is one more thing that the family need not do at this time.
Our menu was a spaghetti and meatballs, tossed salad, garlic bread and miniature cupcakes. We packed up the car with a bouquet of flowers and went to extend our sympathy to the family. Tears and hugs came easily and we talked about when we would celebrate the life of someone we will miss and the ways we could do it.
Not everyone likes to cook....it is our stress relief and we enjoy it. If you know someone in this situation...or someone who is a caregiver or has had an illness or injury that has kept them house bound.....know that this is a huge comfort. If you don't like to cook....find a good place that makes home made soup...or a good pasta entree....a warm reminder that you have taken the time to think of someone during a difficult time in their lives. Pay it Forward...one spoonfull, forkfull at at time.
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