Late Sunday night I finished making my last batch of Christmas cookies, the cream cheese cookies. I have been making these cookies for over 50 years. They have become a favorite of my older son, Darin. I make them last because they are a delicate cookie that will not mail well so they are just for family and friends.
After I finished my last dozen and had them cooling, I put my mess in the sink to wait until the next day.
As is his custom, the next day my husband cleaned up my mess.
That afternoon as I was putting away the items he had cleaned I noticed that while my cookie press was neatly staged on the counter, the disc that went into the press that shaped the cookies was not with the press.
I panicked.
I ran into the bathroom where my husband was taking a shower and yelled, “I need you to come right out to the kitchen to help me find something just as soon as you get out!”
Dutifully he rushed his shower and came to the kitchen.
With trembling hands I showed him the press and said, “But I don’t see the cookie press die anywhere. I had it right here by the sink last night.”
There was a long pause. Then he said, “Oh, I didn’t know what that was. It looked flimsy so I just threw it out.”
Noooooooooooo!
Flimsy! That 2-inch piece of steel had been putting out cookies for 50 years – 9 dozen cookies each time.
My life with that press passed before my eyes. I could remember the time a friend and I were making the cookies together in Germany and the blades of the mixer nicked the wooden spoon and some splinters got into the dough and got caught up in the press. I could remember late nights making the cookies because I had to go to work the next morning. I remembered……
My husband panicked. He went out to the curb and brought back the recycle container and the last bag of trash. He went through them bit by bit but did not find the missing piece.
I sat on the couch with my glass of wine and stared at the candle.
OK, it’s just a thing. There are other cookie presses out in the world. I can replace it.
He offered to try to find someone who could make the missing piece.
No, I’ll look online tomorrow. I won’t need it for another year. I’ll find something.
So, the next morning I did go online and look. It was overwhelming. I think I’ll put it on my wish list for my birthday next year. My daughter-in-law is great at finding the best cooking items.
It will be all right. It’s just a thing. Sigh!
Because we all love happy endings – my diligent husband went back through the last 2 trash bags again. He was very thorough, and he found the missing piece!
Hallelujah!
Jonda S. Beattie, Professional Organizer owner of Time Space Organization, and co-owner of Release, Repurpose, Reorganize. She is based in the Metro-Atlanta area. As presenter, award-winning author, as well as a retired special education teacher she uses her listening skills, problem solving skills, knowledge of different learning techniques, ADHD specialty, and paper management skills to help clients tackle the toughest organizational issues. Jonda does hands on organizing and virtual organizing. For more of Jonda’s tips connect with her on Facebook.