A TWENTY DOLLAR BILL

By Vernalee

Above you see a twenty dollar bill. Over the years, I as you have held many in our hands  and have seen them come and go. I have a twenty dollar bill story for which some of you can relate.

In the early 1970’s, I was attending summer school at Jackson State University to take elective courses. My friends and I had our first apartment. We were as they say, "Living the life!"

All was going well until we ran out of money. In fact, we didn’t even have a dime which was the cost of a collect call at the telephone booth (remember those). Being desperate, we had to make that embarrassing long distance call to our parents to let them know that all four of us were broke and had no food!

Miraculously, I received a letter that Monday morning from my Mother.  The words were “Baby, I thought you might need this!”  Inside the envelope was this glowing shiny brand new green bright $20.00 Bill. Nothing never looked so good! I had hit the jack pot! I could never figure it out but there was always something clairvoyant about my Momma. How did she know over one hundred and fifty miles away that I didn’t have a penny to my name? Did she telepathically read my mind? Later as I matured, i learned that it’s called a Mother’s sixth sense.

Since Momma had taught me early on to share, off to the grocery store, my friends and I went. “All for one and one for all.”

I vividly remember ... We bought a 20 pound bag of potatoes and oil to make French fries. Yum!

My Mother saved the day!

It’s a special memory that I will always cherish. From near or far, Mothers always know! Don’t they? That is why they wear the crown of wisdom! Photo credit: en.wikipedia.org

WE GET BACK WHAT WE PUT IN

By Vernalee

With their children out of school and with so many parents working from home, they now have another arduous task added to their already high pile of responsibilities - providing educational instructions to their kids. It has helped many to deeply appreciate the work that teachers do everyday! Kudos to our teachers!

One thing that we know is that we have to work hard to show our children the way! It's an all inclusive process.

Proverbs 22:6 tells us -

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

The benefits will clearly pay off. If we don’t train them, they’ll pick up their education somewhere; sometimes in the wrong places. No doubt about it, Frederick Douglass was right. “It’s easier to build stronger children than repair broken men.”

When they become older, they are “set in their ways,” making turning the corner and correcting their paths definitely more difficult than it seems. Children with little or no home training become adults that are hard to temper.

Truly, that is a fact and not fiction ... which should undoubtedly become our impetus to provide our children with a solid foundation on the front end ... and pray for the best!

Photo credit: www.boredteachers.com

HAND ME DOWNS - FAMILY TRADITION

By Vernalee

There has always been a tradition in our family of passing down possessions. It is funny how the little things in life mean so much! Allow me to share a cooking story that occurred a few years ago in 2016. Lemon juice can be used to jazz up many dishes. Its tartness enhances the flavor. Squeezing those tiny lemons can be a chore. Not anymore! I inherited the perfect kitchen utensil that makes the job spontaneously effortless. Using my Mother’s recipe, I made a delectable cherry cheese cake utilizing an old fashioned lemon squeezer (pictured above). The squeezer belonged to my Grandmother Eleonora. It worked perfectly! I never knew my Granny. She died when I was two years old. I have always heard family recant stories about how she had me “spoiled rotten” by holding me continuously, picking me up when I fell, and gingerly wiping every tear away from my crying eyes! Go Granny! I love it! Emotionally and ironically, my Granny and I cooked together yesterday when I used her vintage appliance. It was as if she was standing in my kitchen looking over my shoulders! Imaginatively, I could hear her say, “Dash a pinch of vanilla flavor to liven up the taste. Grating a tad bit of the lemon peel won’t hurt!” Those Southern cooks who knew how to put a meal on the table from scanty ingredients are something else! Aren’t they? Perhaps, you could say that my Grandma’s hands guided mine. Alright, the judgment was still out. The proof is in the pudding! Let’s see if I passed the taste test. I cut a slice for my Mother, Miss Phoebe! Understand this! Miss Phoebe, a master chef, can detect a 1/2 teaspoon of salt missing from a three layer German Chocolate cake. If she liked it, you were “home free.” Drum roll, please! Momma loved it and said, “Job well done!” Of course, I couldn’t “leave well enough alone.” I kept going! So, I made lemonade. Upon taking a swallow, Momma said, “Girl, this lemonade is entirely too sweet. Cut back on your sugar! In fact, put a little warm water in first to crystallize the sugar and then add the remaining lemon juice, rinds, and sugar from there!” I did and it salivated off my tongue as I drank it!

I give a shout out of thanks to my late Momma and Granny! Though neither walk this earth, their guidance and presence will never leave! Some folks say “too many cooks in the kitchen” will never work. Well I beg to differ. With this cooking experience four years ago, I had it just right - the memories and the ingredients! Photo credit: www.gritsandmagnolias.com