Saturday Morning Message: Sharing Favorite Foods
Author: Carol Lane
Good Morning,
When my son came home on leave, there were two things he liked to eat. One meal was pancakes at a local pancake place and the other was pizza also from a store in our hometown; so, I chose a picture of a cheesy pizza as the opening picture this week.
When friends or loved ones gather, often there is a sharing of food. That seems to make it easier for many people to participate in a conversation while they are commenting about how great the food is. This week survivors sent responses about their loved ones’ favorite meals. I hope you will enjoy reading this week’s Saturday Morning Message.
Hugs,
Carol Lane
Mother of Bryon
Responses from Survivors to last week's question
Did your loved one have a favorite food? How did he/she react when you would serve it?
From Christine, spouse of Dennis: My husband loved lima beans. When we got married, he said I could have a say over the food, the cake, the decorations, the flowers, anything I wanted, but he wanted lima beans served at our dinner. Of course, he got them.
From Samantha, fiancé of Preston: Preston LOVED to bake- anything from homemade pies to French macarons which he made perfectly. I’ve never met someone so talented. He had all of the cool kitchen gadgets and two Kitchen Aid mixers. It was amazing to see him in the kitchen.
My favorite thing he made was chocolate chip cookies. I’ve never had a more perfect one. He baked them for all of our family events we had. If I was having a bad day, he’d always let me have some of the cookie dough off the spoon. He normally baked at night and I would always go to bed early. He’d wake me up to let me try whatever he had made. It made him so happy knowing I liked it and it made me happy seeing him smile.
From Leslie, mother of Eugene: Eugene was a nice guy. If he was with his grandparents who were Italian that would excite him. He loved to eat all their homemade goodies: pasta, meatballs and sauce, yummy cookies etc. If he were going to see my dad, he was also excited. They would either go to Katz’s deli or Peter Lugers for steak. He just loved good food and making people happy by enjoying their company and goodies they offered. He could cook as well which he learned from his brother and I collected his recipes.
We Welcome Your Comments
If you would like to send a note commenting on one or all of the responses in this week’s Saturday Morning Message, send it to online@taps.org and your thoughts will be passed along to each contributor. You never know how your words may touch the heart of another.
Question for Next Week’s Saturday Morning Message
Have you ever served as a mentor or benefitted from the guidance and support of a mentor? What did that experience mean to you?
At TAPS, we know how beneficial peer to peer connections can be as we learn to cope with the loss of our loved ones. Connecting with another survivor that understands and that has walked a similar path, can be very comforting. In honor of January being National Mentoring Month, we wanted to hear about your experiences as a mentor or mentee and how that experience has impacted you.
In order to have your reply considered for the next edition of the Saturday Morning Message, please send your response by Tuesday morning, January 26, 2021, to online@taps.org.
We Welcome Your Questions
The Saturday Morning Message was created so survivors can share questions and read how others respond. Questions for future messages are always welcome and can be sent to online@taps.org.
Song for the Week
This week’s song, "Dancing in the Sky" was sent by Leslie, mother of Eugene who wrote, “On January 31, 2011, my son died at work from a fatal heart attack while keeping this country safe.
This song says what I think and I believe we all hope. We hope our loved ones make heaven a better place. I miss my son and that hole in my heart does not heal. I have learned to live a different normal. It will be 10 years on January 31, 2011.”
Send Your Favorite Song or Recipe
If you have a favorite recipe or song for this section, please send those to me to online@taps.org and include a note about why the recipe or song is meaningful to you. We publish a special song or recipe in each Saturday Morning Message.
Related Stories
Article: Taste the Love
One of my fondest memories was going to my grandmother's house and smelling the roast that had been cooking for hours.
Videos: Strategies for Healthy Eating
Video recording discussion on setting healthy and realistic goals, planning meals, and tying it all together in the kitchen.
Other Items and Events of Interest
Join us on Memorial Day Weekend, May 28 to 30, for our 27th Annual National Military Survivor Seminar! We will be live streaming all of our general sessions with guest speakers.
Important Note: In-person registration is still open, but we are in a waitlist situation due to COVID occupancy restrictions in the State of Virginia.
If you have any questions, email seminarregistrations@taps.org or call our Helpline at 202.588.TAPS (8277).
▶▶ Connect With Your TAPS Family
You can discover all the opportunities to connect with your TAPS Family on our website at the TAPS Event Calendar.
About the Saturday Morning Message
The Saturday Morning Message (SMM) is a weekly communication contributed by survivors. The primary focus of the SMM is to foster peer-based connections for support and encouragement. It is the goal of this communication to foster a safe, supportive place where we can openly share in a nonjudgmental and caring manner. Read and contribute as you are comfortable. Content submitted for the SMM is edited for space considerations and may be used in other TAPS publications. The loving family at TAPS is available to you 24 hours a day. Please call 202-588-TAPS (8277).