Recipes! Are You Kidding?
By Bobby Wallinger
I can remember my mother and aunts talking about, “how time flies?” and as a little one, wondering how they could possibly say that? For me, the days before summer vacation absolutely dragged especially the final two weeks before school would get out and my buddies and I could begin a summer filled with Day Camp, swimming parties, hours of fun playing jump rope, kick-the-can or hide-and-seek. Would summer EVER get here?
The wait for Christmas was even more painful. Despite lots of pre-Christmas activities both at school and Sunday school… making cards for our parents, shopping at the PTA Christmas Shoppe where no item cost more than 20 cents and, of course, writing my letter to Santa. Would Christmas never get here?
But looking back on those days, I now know why the adults in my family kept referring to “time flying”. I simply cannot believe it has been twelve months since I wrote my last December column and twenty-one years since I wrote my first published column in 1990.
Wow! Mama and the aunts were right on the money…time does fly.
So, here I am getting ready for the holidays, wishing I had just a few more days to decorate, shop and bake, but never the less feeling the same excitement and anticipation I had as a youngster. Looking back at the past year, a memory that stands out in my mind was joining a group of friends in passing out blankets and sweatshirts under the cross-town freeway last December 18th as part of the “Blanket the City” program established many years ago by Steve Morales and Caravan News. As we caravanned along the dark streets, passing out blankets, jackets, and sweaters to our homeless community members, one of our party declared, “You know what? This has been one of the best nights of my life”.
Returning from the adventure, Mark Sorensen recorded his impressions of the evening and I want to share them with you…
December 18, 2009
The look in her eyes. That young girl with her mother in tow. The
look of pure hit and wonderment was enough to make anyone’s heart
break as she looked at what was in my hands.
I asked the young girl, “Would you like a warm blanket?” She gladly said, “Yes, thank you!” and took another one for her mom. I asked if there were other people down the muddy bank as I pointed toward the darkness under the cross-town overpass. She nodded in the affirmative.
Our flashlight leading the way, the sound of gravel shuffling beneath our feet as we stumbled through the dark. I caught a glimpse of the girl under a flickering light making her bed. Corners pulled taut across an old beat-up mattress. She did it with pride----That was the most glamorous bed in the world, at least she thought, for tonight. We walked on, smiling as the tears rolled down our cheeks.
The night stayed cold and damp. My new friends and I kept marching on, person to person until all the blankets were gone. Our hearts filled with love of something we could do…to give a gift of friendship and at least one more night of staying dry and warm to complete strangers in need.
I had now experienced one of the best nights of my life.
By Mark Sorensen
There is nothing I can add to the experience other than to hope
your Holiday Season is filled with the experience of giving. Merry
Christmas, Happy Chanukah, “Peace on earth, goodwill to man”.
Be safe,
Love,
Bobbie
For more information on where you can donate time, food, clothing and blankets, call any of the many people-helping agencies in San Joaquin County, or call Caravan News at 957-8629 to donate new or used blankets to the Blanket the City with Love.