Zinger Challenged?

We all remember Meg Ryan's character in You've Got Mail.

I loved Kathleen and identified with her in two ways, a love of independent bookstores being one but also because she could never think of a sarcastic comeback to Joe Fox (Tom Hanks). 

Like Kathleen, I am zinger challenged, rarely can get one off.

Have you ever lain awake at night thinking of all the perfect zingers you could have made?

Are you as witty as a standup comic--hours after you need to be?

Are you a fellow member of the "staircase wit" club--that slow reaction comeback known as L'esprit de l'escalier? 

Are you a tortoise surrounded by hares when thrown into an argument, a brilliant answer or zinger popping into your brain at 2 a.m.?

Then again.............

Perhaps it's just as well if we haven't been given the gift of a quick comeback, piercing putdowns. 

Remember when Kathleen had enough and launched her own zingers at Joe?

It stunned him, which probably was a good thing. Kathleen felt vindicated at first but then her natural niceness prevailed and she  was ashamed of herself.

Maybe it's just as well not to have been given the gift of zingers, what do you think?

And maybe an even greater gift is having the gift of returning that zinger, but not unleashing it, even on FaceBook or other social media.

What do you think about this? 

And lest you worry that I'm writing this because I've been personally hurt by this recently, not at all. I just admit to being bothered at the general unkindness seen on social media, the zingers shot back and forth as tempers rise.

Just wondering what some of the kindest people I know think about this...you!

Ever Feel Like Eating Grass?

Our Mr. & Mrs. Smith do.

But do you ever feel like this?

"I feel like a sick dog that wants to go out and eat nothing but grass--only I would prefer asparagus, green peas, green string beans (small kind--no strings), green spinach, Brussels sprouts, broccoli."

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

in Bring Me a Unicorn

Spring does this to me, does it you?

I crave asparagus...

I crave Florida green beans

(with new potatoes)...

Most of all I crave broccoli,

and broccoli salad too...

Let's throw in some scallions, bell peppers,

and jalapenos with the broccoli florets.

Then add some dried cranberries, crisp bacon,

juicy little tomatoes,

and while we're at it saute pecans

with a little sea salt. 

Don't forget to stir a little dressing into it

of mayo, drizzle of olive oil, a little champagne wine 

vinegar, salt and pepper.

This recipe is from a favorite cookbook,

Nathalie Dupree's Matter of Taste.

What else did we have?

A simple recipe from my trusty
Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook,
that I made long ago as a newlywed.

A hamburger pie topped with mashed potatoes

cooked in a black iron skillet.

Man cannot live by greens alone,

at least my man can't.

Here's something else green we can make a meal on.

Do you love guacamole as much as we do?

I'm craving greens lately almost as much

as Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

How about you?

Anyone already have salad makings

growing in your garden yet?

Almost forgot to add this recent pic of me with my sister Teresa when we took a day of sister time.

We wore blue, not green.
And we talked and talked and talked.
Aren't sisters wonderful?

A Glimpse of Lilac

A glimpse out the window on a rainy day

and there is lilac.

Can you see it?

Never having had a lilac,

we didn't know.

So that's what this bush was,

a lilac

that Gladys Taber believed

was loveliest of all.

All shrubbery here having been pruned

for the house to go on the market,

probably at the wrong time of year,

there were only three clusters this April.

I cut one sprig for the house.

And it was enough happiness for one woman.

You might not be able to stand me if I had armfuls.

"There is enough beauty in lilac for a lifetime." 

Gladys Taber

A Bountiful Easter to all of you--

from Dewena and RH

Dewena's List (Better than Angie's List)

1. My favorite artists-in-residence

2. My favorite tea party hostesses

3. My favorite great-grandson

4. My favorite person to watch The Wizard of Oz with

5. My favorite lawn service

Contact Mimi and Pawpaw for references.