For some reason, my neck, which has bothered me from time to time for 30 years, took a notion to come on full force last night. I didn't sleep much, so I headed to the neighborhood pharmacy, notes in hand to find some Icy Hot or something like that. The lady was most helpful, assuring me the whole time that she was sorry she did not speak English. I got what she recommended, but I haven't noticed much difference yet.
The good part of the story, however, is that since it was nice and springy and dry outside I abandoned my boots and broke out my Teva Dozers. I don't know why they named them that, but I love those ugly covered toed hiking sandals. Anita and I got them for walking in Italy and Greece several years ago, and they are wonderful for little old lady feet. It is still chilly for having bare feet sticking out the open parts of the shoes, so I put on my hand knit wool socks and off I went. I had a pain in my neck, but I had happy feet. My boots are really comfortable, but I am so tired of winter footwear. Mrs. K, a teacher at Overdale always started wearing sandals way too early as far as I was concerned, but I do see where she was coming from. Fortunately I went when I did, because clear turned to rain by mid-afternoon.
I've decided that Del and I almost make one brain. He said this morning that I should dampen a towel and microwave it for my neck. I immediately went to the cupboards for a bag of brown rice and to the dresser for a white cotton sock. Somehow I only got here with one to wear with my tennis shoes, but I'm glad inertia kept me from throwing it away. I filled it, tied a knot in it and stuck it in the microwave. Bliss!
The sight of the knotted sock reminded me of a story involving my nephew, Willard Montellous Robinson III, or Monte. I would have to do the math, but I think I was 12 or 13 when he was born. He stayed with us quite a bit when he was a year or so old because his mom's daddy had a stroke and she was needed on the Eastern Shore to help her mother take care of him. I thought Monte, and later, Melissa, hung the moon. Monte fell in love with a little stuffed dog my cousin, Garland, jr. had given me. It was made of real white rabbit fur, and I had kept it in the clear plastic box it had come in. He was convinced it was a kitty and either called it Kitty or Fluffy. I can't remember. Adoring aunt that I was, I gave it to him, and he loved it mightily. Within a couuple of months of being loved by a one or two year old, it was a sight to see. Eventually, it ended up tied in one of his daddy's black socks. There was a little square of the fur left, and he used it as a lovey, sometimes sticking it in his ear when he went to bed. Sometime later he lost Flufy or Kitty, which he still called it even when it was reduced to sock form on the ferry to the Eastern Shore. His parents thought they could just stuff another black sock, but Monte was too smart to be fooled by that. Even after the sock was gone, he continued to hang onto the piece of fur.
I was a freshman at Westhampton when Melissa was born, so I didn't get to spend as much time with her, but she was a special little girl. I remember she loved to climb. If I recall correctly,she tried to join her daddy on the roof when he was working on the antenna while she was still a preschooler. She was flower girl at our wedding, but that's a story for another day. Monte was supposed to be the candle lighter, but the florist forgot the long handled lighter thing so he couldn't reach. I was so upset. He did look cute in his choir robe though.
Tomorrow we have to write out the ingredients for a recipe in Lithuanian. I donated the recipe for Vidalia onion dip to Del. Equal parts of grated onion, grated swiss cheese and Dukes mayonaisse, if you can get it,
stirred together and baked at 350 for about 45 minutes depending on thickness or until bubbly, set and beginning to color. Serve with bread or crackers or apply directly to hips or waist - that's where it's headed anyhow. Use a paper towel to sop up the standing puddle of grease that will be on top when you take it out of the oven. I make it once a year to take to a picnic or something so Del won't eat the whole thing.
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