H – is for all the Hootin’ and Hollerin’ you’ve done on our behalf at all our games, whether we won or lost

A – is for the Ambulance you called when we fell out of that tree in the front yard

P – is for not giving up on the Potty Training, which has ended up paying off after all

P – is for all the Parties, birthday and otherwise, you’ve thrown over the years, each one better than the last

Y – is for saying “Yes” as many times as you had to say “No”

M – is for Marrying Dad so we could be here in the first place

O – is for celebrating our Oddities, telling us one day we would appreciate them…and you were right

T – is for Tasting our strained peas so we could see how yummy they were

H – is for the warm and loving Home you provided, a safe place to learn, laugh and grow

E – is for the Eyes in the back of your head that never missed a trick

R – is so we’ll always Remember, thanks to all the pictures you took, ad nauseum, of each memory big or small

S – is for all the bedtime Stories, making even the 82^nd reading sound as fresh as the first

D – is for teaching us to Drive, putting your own life at risk, because you knew eventually you could use this to your advantage

A – is for the other Ambulance you called when we fell out of that same tree a month later

Y – is for not making us quit our Yodeling lessons, even when you had to start self-medicating

To the world you might just be one person,

but to one person you might just be the world.

(Author Unknown)

The first week of May is Bread Pudding Recipe Exchange Week, so I simply have to share this White Chocolate Bread Pudding recipe I’ve had for awhile. It’s got tons of rich ingredients and it’s very decadent so I only make it for special occasions but I get so many requests for the recipe it occurred to me I should start charging. Hope you love it as well. And since the key word here is “Exchange,” feel free to share your favorite!

White Chocolate Bread Pudding

16 slices firm white bread

1 quart heavy cream

1 ½ c. whole milk

½ c. sugar

12 oz. good quality white chocolate, chopped

3 large eggs

8 large egg yolks

Preheat oven to 350F. Cut bread into ¾” squares; place in two 15 ½” x 10 ½” jellyroll pans and bake 15 min. or until toasted, stirring once. Grease a shallow     3 ¾ quart casserole; set aside. In a 4 quart saucepan, heat cream, milk and sugar to boiling over medium-high heat. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate.

In a large bowl, whisk eggs and egg yolks until blended; gradually whisk in the hot cream mixture. Place bread in the casserole dish; top with custard. Pressing bread into custard, cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 300F. Bake 1 hour or until knife inserted into center comes out clean. Cool 15 min. before serving.

Time to tap into your inner artiste (or your version of…) and start jotting down a list of all the creative things you’ve dreamed of doing, meant to find the time for or have a natural affinity toward. It’s the perfect time of year – gorgeous weather, flowers are blooming, everyone’s in a good mood and the itch is palpable to find that next adventure (either that or its allergy time again).

OK, spill…what’s it going to be? You’ve always wanted to pan for gold, take an art class, become a nurse or a clown. Or there’s never been time for flying a kite, learning to ride a motorcycle, finding some wet cement to scrawl your name in or finishing that topiary scene from Gone with the Wind you started in the back yard before your teenager was born. By now you have an inkling of your strengths and weaknesses. What would you be that would make you truly happy: Tattoo Artist? Glass Blower? Drummer? Sculptor?

No time like the present to jump right in. Step away from your comfort zone and take the challenge. Even if it’s not quick or easy, if it’s something you’ve always wanted to try or, at the very least, been curious about, you know it will be new and exciting.

Think back when you were a kid and the days were filled with play, pretend and imagination. Unfortunately, the older we get and the more adult issues begin to invade our lives, those spirited activities of our youth get pushed further from our consciousness.

But the creative process enriches every aspect of our lives. When we try something new, when an unfamiliar skill is conquered – the sense of satisfaction we feel is powerful and can have an energetic influence on the ‘other’ routine, grown-up part of our life.

My new creative beginning was developing our website, www.giftsEclectic.com. Yes, it was a challenge (most definitely…still is), and it was scary, and the learning curve is ongoing. The key, for me, has been flexibility and patience – prior untapped skills, but I’m getting there. But is it enjoyable and irresistible, uncertain yet rewarding? The unequivocal answer would be yes.

At the risk of sounding cheesy, I’ve found my bliss. If you haven’t found yours yet, here’s hoping its right around the corner.

National Sibling Day was created to “honor, appreciate and celebrate all brothers and sisters, and memorialize those who are no longer with us.”

I hereby shamefully admit that growing up, I envied my friends who were blessed to be single offspring – the sun rises and sets with the only child. Instead, I was #2 of six. Of course, these same friends felt I was the fortunate one…the grass is always greener…and as I matured, I came to agree with them wholeheartedly. At the time, however, with two busy working parents (college professor/organist/composer dad, registered nurse mom), the house was chaotic and brimming with bickering, teasing, laughing, bellowing and/or blubbering. I couldn’t wait to get some peace and quiet.

But a funny thing happens when you distance yourself from the pandemonium. My first year away at college, I realized that, while I could certainly do without the commotion, I did start admiring mom and dad on a whole new level, and gained a surprisingly fresh appreciation for my smart, quirky, freewheeling, industrious, hilarious brothers and sisters. Allow me to introduce them:

Margaret (Mog-ole-Bean), the oldest, is an accomplished concert flutist and teacher, well known and sought after in her community by those requiring classic and classical musical accompaniment at society events, fine dining establishments and private functions. She’s a cat lover, wife, vegan, creative cook, antique lover, historic home owner and addicted proficient crocheter.

Nancy (Nance), #3 in the birth order, is the only sister who went on to have her own kiddies, the two most perfect, sassy, enchanting nieces on the planet (just sayin’…). She has a strong affinity for numbers because she loves black and white, checks and balances – they reconcile or they don’t, and if they don’t, why? Like a dog with a bone. She’s also an über proud grandmama, office manager, canine lover, captivating story writer, volunteer and entertainer extraordinaire.

Carol (Bā-Ro), aka ‘Teal,’ daughter #4, loves to travel. Married to a gifted organist, she remains closely involved in that world our dad was so much a part of. Still independent, though, she’s been in Convention Sales at San Francisco (her all-time favorite city) Travel for a couple of decades. Her consummate artistic side surfaces regularly over the years, from jewelry- and pottery-making phases, to her current yen for baking (delicious gems, of course, but a lovely feast for the eyes as well) and photography.

David (Pavid-June), our father’s namesake, brother #1/5^th in the line. Dave is thisclose to achieving his Ph.D in Musicology, putting the finishing touches (as we speak) on his dissertation about the ground-breaking music of, and mythos surrounding,The Doors. His passion is everything music (yes, all genres…he swears), but he’s also an Adjunct Teacher, father of my only nephew (a clever and pretty cool dude in his own right), Fabricator at the Guggenheim Museum, dog lover and inspired traveler.

Scott (Scopapher), last but not least – #6. He’s a Ph.D and Director of the UCLA Baby Lab, where his research concerns the origins and development of perception and cognition, with a focus on attention, speech perception, face perception, object knowledge, learning mechanisms, and brain development. Whew. Our baby brother is also a husband and father (two active, musical, bright little niece-imps), fitness enthusiast, beach-lover, open road warrior and all around workaholic.

And then there is I, who will modestly cop to having a skill or two of my own. We’re similar in many ways, my sibs and I – a bit on the overachieving side, wonderful eccentricities, off-beat sense of humor, strong faith and beliefs, and fierce love and support for one another. We also, however, acknowledge and treasure each other’s differences…they make us who we are and truly cement the bonds. So to each of my sisters and brothers, I honor, appreciate, celebrate and love you.

“You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.”
Desmond Tutu

Hard to believe we’ve still got this one on the calendar. It’s a bit confusing. Are we celebrating equal pay? Negative; we have a way to go. Are we acknowledging improvement? I’m OK with that. Or, more to the point, is this our ‘official’ annual reminder that we’re not there yet? Women’s earnings account for a considerable share of the financial support of their families, but they are still experiencing a gap in pay compared to men’s wages for similar work.

While progress has been made according to US labor statistics, (women were earning, on average, $.59 on the dollar compared to men when the Equal Pay Act was signed into law by President Kennedy; today the disparity is around $.78), that difference could translate to the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of a woman’s career.

It’s mind-boggling that in this ‘enlightened’ time, issues affecting half the population are treated as less significant. Since the salaries of both men and women, or single working women, contribute to more than 80% of all households, treating this as solely a “woman’s issue” is shortsighted and unfair…it’s clearly a family matter.

Researchers speculate on the difference: Conventionally male-dominated professions paying better than female-dominated avocations; Women ‘choosing’ to raise children or tend to the home over their careers, temporarily; Salary negotiation dilemmas, walking that tightrope between assertiveness and acceptance (unfortunately, typically a women-only predicament); Sexism/discrimination, whether consciously or unconsciously imposed.

So yes, we still have some ground to cover. But we’ve also come a long way, baby! And as long as the dialogue continues and we keep moving toward a solution, a light is surely at the end of this tunnel.

Now that’s an occasion. In this day and age where every miniscule nuance is trumpeted – Does the drool on your pillow really look like Yoda…and you had to share on YouTube? You seriously contacted the Guinness Book of World Records to find out if they have a ‘Most Bellybutton Lint’ category? -  celebrating diversity is worth the hoopla.

As a kid, you want to fit in, be the same as your friends. Growing up with red hair, that wasn’t an option for me. I gamely endured the nicknames – Carrot Top, Rusty, Woody (as in Woodpecker), Howdy (as in Doody). But as I got older, I started appreciating the fact that it made me different – after all, only about 2% of Americans have that particular genetic feature – so how cool is that? (Now that I’m much older, I’d happily take that, ahem, natural unadulterated shade of auburn any day.)

We’re all unique, special, incomparable – why on earth would we want it any other way?  The concept of diversity embodies acceptance, respect, understanding our differences and cherishing them.  There is no greater benefit to all than appreciating and exploring these wonderful characteristics inherent in everyone around us!

“Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.”
Ola Joseph

1. It’s about time they contributed to the cost of their kibble, rather than while away the hours leisurely napping, eating, playing and wee-weeing (not necessarily in that order).
2. Belt Rex into the passenger seat and use the car pool lane.
3. For once you can go through an entire day without wondering if someone is on the sofa who shouldn’t be.
4. You have a 140-pound Rottie and that bully in Accounting that you can’t stand has a prissy little pocket dog…well, ‘nuff said.
5. The dog really did eat your homework, er, past-due report.
6. You are able to immediately spot the sympatico who will let Fifi slobber-kiss – a true dog-lover for sure.  You will file this information away for future use.
7. You’re tired of those accusing where-have-you-been-all-day looks when you get home (even if you only went to the mailbox); now they can see for themselves.
8. It’ll be a great way to meet new friends, lick new faces, sniff new behinds (‘course, you realize we’re talking about the dog here, yes?)
9. You get to finally reap the rewards of all those hours spent training Scooby to sit…and stay.
10. Tinkerbell needs more frequent breaks throughout the day (psssst…that means you get them too!).

So break out your traveling pooper scooper, collapsible water bowl, some puppie snacks and their favorite blankie and off you go.  It’ll be a great workday with your faithful companion by your side!

Today is Let It Go Day (also known as Easier Said than Done Day).  It’s also National Pink Day, Typewriter Patented Day and National Pecan Sandy Day.  Come on – which deserves the kudos?  How does one pick from these gems?  Oh, the pressure!  Speaking of…I believe I just made up my mind.  According to my research, “Resentment, stress and worry can make you feel unwell.  Letting it all go, through positive thought, yoga and meditation, or the realization that in the grand scheme of things whatever ‘it’ is, is not worth worrying about.”

I’ll buy that.  So – here’s what I’m letting go of, starting immediately or sooner:

Stress (hmmm, I’ll try, I really will, unless I stress too much trying not to, er, stress…)

Bangs

Puce (love the color; I’m just not going to call it Puce anymore)

Reality TV (OK, well, can’t exactly say I’m going to as it has irritated and confounded me since Day One, but call it wishful thinking that everyone else will let it go and it’ll disappear!)

Lima beans

Snarky comments (received)

Nosebleed high heels

Zero calorie designer bottled water (how gullible are we?)

Coveting my neighbor’s perfect lawn

Snarky comments (given)

My lifelong crush on Larry King

And last but not least…Scrunchies

OK, wish me luck – now you…share…

Um, say again?  What is, and how exactly do we celebrate, Baby Boomer’s Recognition Day?  To save you grueling hours, I initiated a comprehensive search on the subject.  And since I still have no idea when it started or how the observation manifests itself (resources are conflicted), let’s see what we can come up with, shall we?

First, we need to find them.  Since most sources put Boomers’ age between 47 and 65, you could start at the shuffleboard court, the retirement home or the rocking chair, but you’d probably come up empty.  Boomers are parents and grandparents, working and retired (or a combination of the two), active and relaxing, homebodies and travelers.  That’s the greatest thing about being a Boomer in this generation…there are no rules, no standard protocol.  Even if we’re facing location, physical or financial restrictions, we’ve found a way to move around them and still live our lives on our own terms.

So here’s this Boomer’s idea:  I “recognize” and celebrate all the other amazing Boomers out there…may we keep learning and challenging ourselves, have a ready supply of hugs on hand, treasure friends and family, and laugh at least once a day, yes?  Groovy!