November 2022

While I enjoy watching the Food Channel, I’m not a foodie. I come from a family that eats the basic provisions. We’re not big on spices, or fancy dishes. My mom is a good cook. She will tell you that she isn’t, she is modest that way. She has cooked for our family for decades and if you’ve seen any one of us, you know we aren’t starving. Her potato soup with its simple ingredients, has the power to heal bruised hearts, tired souls and the common cold. I think it’s the love she puts into her cooking. Love enhances food more than exotic ingredients ever could.

On the quest to raising good humans, I realize that most people tend to use the holidays as a teachable time for kids. We encourage the need to do good for others who might have less than we do as we donate food, toys, money and help in our communities and beyond. We do this on overdrive in November and December because these months are within the “season of giving.” And while I wish this was more of a year-round notion; I still jump on board with my own three kids to embrace the season as a time to do for others with no expectation of gain. Many of the best ways to help others costs nothing at all, aside from some time and effort. Children of all ages can benefit from giving without expecting anything in return. One of the first very first lessons learned is to share. This is an essential social skill for building healthy relationships with others and contributes to overall happiness. The holiday season always seems to bring out the best in people and I always look for new ways in which my children can share in the joy of helping others.

People that know me well, know that “Barney Fife” of the early 60’s “Andy Griffith TV Show” was one of my alltime favorite characters. So much so, that somehow along the way I developed a fairly good impersonation of ol’ Barn with his quirky mannerisms and highpitched voice whenever he was in his element as Sheriff Andy’s deputy. I can take on Barn’s persona and not feel embarrassed at all. That was the thing about Emmy award-winning actor Don Knotts --- he didn’t mind playing the fool... looking especially awkward, naive or gullible for a laugh. That’s me too.