cleaning sinks; making muffins

Some things in life are straight forward, clear cut, black and white.  You know what to do, maybe you’ve even been there before.  Everything just seems to make sense.

Some things don’t.

Last Friday morning my friend’s husband passed away very suddenly.  He was only 58.  We are a group of friends and neighbors, all in our 50’s, kids close in ages.  We “girls” get together regularly for “coffee”… which is really just codeword for “therapy”.  We have been there for each other through thick and thin, laughter and tears… We are a diverse group.  Very diverse.  And that really works for us. Never, however, have we had to be there for each other like this.

So what to do…?  Your mind fills with a laundry list of things you can’t do.  You can’t bring him back.  You can’t turn back time.  You can’t take away her pain.  So you do what you can.  Whatever “that” is.  For me, it was helping to clean her house for the onslaught of people who would converge on her in the coming days.  Then I made muffins… and casseroles… and phone calls… and trips to Target.  In my state of “helplessness”; I found great strength in the “doing”.

So our little group has suffered a terrible blow. Times two. The devastating loss of a treasured husband and father last Friday, and then our friend, Mary, left on Monday to follow her heart, and her dreams, to Maine. (See previous post; the “Maine” goodbye)  We will, obviously, never be the same – but we will survive.  This is definitely unchartered territory, so we will just have to “wing it” I guess.  We will be there to help in any way that we can in the days, weeks, months to come…  Though we are all very different, we will do whatever we can; what we do best… whatever “that” is.

Banana Nut Muffins

2 c. flour

1 T. baking powder

½ t. salt

½ c. butter

3/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 1/3 c. ripe banana, mashed

1 c. chopped toasted pecans

Sift together dry ingredients and set aside.  Cream butter and sugar.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Stir in mashed bananas.  Add dry ingredients all at once, stirring just enough to moisten.  Gently stir in nuts.  Spoon into greased muffin tins, filling about 2/3 full. (about 15-18 muffins)  Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.