Vanilla & Rocky Road

When I was young, I knew a chap (that’s Canadian or British for “man”) who had a motto and that motto was a credo for him. His name is Frank and his motto was, “What I say is my problem, how you interpret it is your problem!”

That was pretty strong for a person of 18! I still think that! One thing we really had in common was that we both loved to write!

Over the years I have done articles on purebred dogs, grief, prayer, manners, houses, family, scrapbooking – all pretty Vanilla stuff. He likes to tackle more contentious topics and so I’ll say his flavor would be Rocky Road!

I have thought long and hard about why I write about pleasant stuff and you know, it is probably because I do care how you feel about it. Right or wrong, I want you to like me. That of course, is a fault, but perhaps not a grievous one!

While I was reporting for the Uxbridge Times Journal and turning in a story on a car fire at a Tupperware Party up on Toronto Street, Frank was reporting from Capital Hill in Ottawa on national television. So, for me, writing has been an avocation and for Frank, a vocation.

Hubby and I read the newspaper first thing every morning. Now, we used to read two newspapers every morning, but Houston Chronicle decided it no longer wanted to deliver to our address in East Texas. We watch the local and national news. Our living room – and yours – is front and center. We can watch the Iraq war or catch the odd high-speed car chase in L.A. or Houston. No one forgets watching the horrors of 9-11.

So, I guess my feeling is that there is enough “rocky road” stuff and you might just like to read about what my neighbor’s child said when she got off the school bus today.

Probably because I now live in the Bible Belt, I have really good feelings about my church and all the friends I’ve made there. Perhaps you’d like to hear about our Fall Festival or Mardi Gras Party.

The only Mardi Gras I knew in Toronto was an Airedale Terrier who lived next door! Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday” and in Canada, that would be Shrove or Pancake Tuesday. The big difference is that in Texas, we wear purple, yellow and green (with lots of beads). We serve red beans and rice with a gooey cake chaser.

When I first came here, I didn’t think I was any different from the people I was meeting. oddly enough, they thought I spoke a little funny, eh? I have been teased but not maliciously, and most people here want to know more about Canada. I have a few Canadian friends here and occasionally we compare our thoughts on life in such a casual area.

One thing I have never really developed is the taste for the spicy food and I still ask them to, “kick it down a notch and put the sauce on the side, please”.

Probably because I’m a vanilla person!