16 Dec Belgian Chocolates & Burritos
Allow me to introduce you to Lee Pawlitsky. She’s not an official member of LOL, but I hope to recruit her to join us on-line. I have a feeling–after only a brief meeting–she’s a perfect fit. While our encounter was short (my kids had orthodontic appointments and the check-out line looked long), sometimes mere minutes are enough to move us.
I do love Costco and who doesn’t hear their stomachs rumble when they see the ladies in red, armed with spatulas and spoons and little samples? I know we’re not the only family that jokes “We’re going to Costco for lunch”, meaning we make our way from demo table to demo table, noshing and nibbling, sipping and savoring. And yesterday, what Lee was offering, this Lady on Literature was taking.
She had chocolate. Not just any chocolate, mind you. Belgian chocolate. In the shape of little Santas and snowmen, and simple squares. Lee nodded as I bent to breathe in the Belgian beauties before selecting something with a creamy, rich, melt-in-my-mouth center. “Thank-you,” I sighed with satisfaction.
“That’s 1, 080 chocolates–and that many smiles!” Lee replied. “I’ve been here since nine this morning.” She went on to explain how much she loves her job because what she does makes everyone happy–well, almost everyone. “I get the odd cranky man,” she said. “I say ‘if you don’t smile, you don’t get a chocolate.'” Then Lee laughed out loud. And that’s when the other LOL (the one Karen and a few people have now admitted to thinking the acronym stood for) Lots Of Love…filled the air.
Lee and I enjoyed a lovely conversation in which she explained she’s been a volunteer with Kelowna Hostess for nearly 18 years. I’ve no doubt she’s made many tens of thousands of people smile. Thanks for lighting up my day, Lee. Blessings and Belgian chocolate-smiles to you at Christmas and beyond.
Which brings me to burritos. You will recall last blog I bragged about the LOL’s evening of Feliz Navidad-ing @ Fernando’s, the fabulous Mexican eatery? Oh, so yummy and oh, so funny. I promised to discuss Spray on Legs, our collective hatred of hose, and the hazards of stay-ups, but I seem to have run out of room on this Free-for-all-Friday…It’s just that there’s sooo much to say about this stuff. It’s positively riveting. I promise you. It will be worth your while to come back on Monday to learn about Spray on Legs (miracle in a can). Somehow I will find a way to relate such rejuvenating revelations to our current novel, Annabel. Which, if you haven’t picked up, you should! I’m about 1/3 of the way through and we’re really getting into “Wayne’s” character and the bittersweet struggles he faces, reconciling his feminine and masculine selves.
Have a great weekend and remember…Laugh out Loud and give out Lots of Love in this final week leading up to the holy holiday.
Cheers!