The Story

Dear Liza,

First I want to apologize that it has taken me so long to get your bowl returned to you! It somehow got packed in one of our kitchen boxes and I found it this morning (yes that does mean it’s taken me two full months to finish unpacking, but you know- setting up the kids for school took priority). I’ve filled it with pecan sandies (my mother’s recipe!) as an apology.

Second I want to thank you for attending my going-away party! Michelle was so sweet to throw it, and told me that it would not have happened at all if she had not roped in her “most reliable friend Liza.” So I’m sorry our first meeting was our last, as I trust Michelle’s good taste!

Thanks again,

Olivia

–

Olivia,

No need to thank me! I would do anything for Michelle, as she’s not only fantastic but also is the one who got my daughter into Lilling Academy- but also because it’s not my bowl.

I asked Michelle and she swears it is yours but that moving has you confused. I would never accuse a fellow woman of being confused, more like responsible for too many thoughts at once, right? But since we both trust her judgement, I’m sending it back. Also full, because my god were those pecan sandies delicious. You’ll have to give me the recipe, if your mother will allow. My return offering is apple turnovers, as I just recently graduated from apple strudel to the other folded bake with apples.

Hope you enjoy,

Liza

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Dear Liza,

We are indeed in a battle of wills. Or a bowl of wills. I am certain THIS is the bowl those delicious apple strudels were presented in at the party! Though it is understandable that Michelle would think I have things mixed up. I do have a bowl similar, slightly smaller though and the edging is green. Also I have yet to pick my children up from school on time, so maybe I do have a few things still unsettled (who wouldn’t- it’s so cold here! Perhaps my thoughts have frozen). Why aren’t school hours a standard thing?

Your apple turnovers were a hit in this house- I barely scarfed down my own before the boys lit on them! I cannot fold anything so neatly, so please enjoy these cinnamon muffins that accompany the sandies recipe (my mother was always big on sharing- not one of those ‘it’s a family recipe’ types).

Hoping to bowl you over,

Olivia

–

Oliva,

I’m not sure you should challenge me to a battle of wills- I was born up in that cold! My late husband, who I don’t think you got the chance to meet, and I vowed to move to south together despite how sad/furious our moms were because we were talking about kids and I couldn’t imagine being pregnant and freezing. The Fall is hard, there’s no denying that, but you will see that the Winter is so beautiful and fun that it really makes up for it. Buy the boys some good parkas before the seasonal price-bump and schedule ski lessons for everyone, or ice skating if that’s your vibe- I never got the hang of it.

I asked around at Michelle’s card night- she says it is the first of a new monthly tradition for the ladies because we all should be bonding like our grandmothers did. I’m not completely bought on it yet but I’ll keep showing up if she keeps making me a gin fizz worthy of the babysitter cash. None of the girls there claimed the bowl when I mentioned it and I think it was a pretty similar invitee list as your party, though I don’t know everyone that well. There are few new ladies since my hiatus. So, obvious to you now, I am sending it back with hopes you’ll adopt it or realize there’s an unexpectedly empty spot in your cabinet.

My girl Pepper- and just to cut you off before you start no I will not be having a son named Salt, it’s a family name- was so happy with your muffins that it inspired me to ease my way into things without apples. Just a toe-dip though. These are no bake Energy Balls. I’ve included the recipe as I don’t know if your boys have any allergies. I discovered the secret to not adding any sugar and not too much honey is the coconut. It adds flavor and some good fats while preserving the idea that these might be good for you. Pepper enjoyed the very sticky experimentation and I hope you enjoy these even half as much.

Just unbelieva-bowl,

Liza

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Dear Liza,

Happy Halloween! Or, almost Thanksgiving I guess. Should I take down the cobwebs or just stick the turkeys in them for a pilgrim-macabre effect? I remember my mother saying time flew for her during the school year and I always thought- you’re not the one with homework (but we are in a way, aren’t we?!). You’re an actual guardian angel about the parkas- I made Tom get all the boys fitted and set (a size up for James, he’s growing an inch a day I think) when they were almost sweating in them, but just this morning I checked the prices for fun and my God! It’s as bad as gas prices on a holiday!

Speaking of the boys- your Energy Bites (as I cannot call them Balls because James is at… THAT age where everything is a joke) are a life saver for lunch boxes. It is now officially part of the food prep on Sundays.

So I did something a little silly and went back and checked the pictures of the party but no one took one of the snacks table! I’m shocked- there were so many good things and cute (Jessica really needs to open a shop, her moving truck cake was amazing) and not one damn picture! We are bad Instagram millennials and I expect better of us. But I did remember that someone made caramels from scratch for that day- so I’ve had the boys try to help me recreate them (Tommy is going to be a chef one day, I know it but the other two I fear I’m going to be cooking for until they marry). The kitchen is a mess but I think we had some success, let me know what you think.

Now the part I have re-written three times (you’re worth the stationary): I never did get to meet your Peter formally, no. But I feel like I have because all of the couples in your neighborhood spoke so highly of him. That he was so fun, very reliable, and that the two of you were a sunny addition to the street. I fear that Tom and I became active in that group after Peter’s passing when you were still in mourning and moved away just as you were emerging. For every single reason out there I wish that had not been the case. Tom says that the husbands would brag about taking turns sneaking a sip of good bourbon into Peter’s tea at chemo sessions (and while I do not approve of them messing with medications) I do hope that brought some joy to Peter and to you. I pray that you and Pepper are doing well and that these sweet exchanges are as much as a balm to your day as they are to mine.

Thinking of you,

Olivia

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Olivia,

My turkey decorations are now all wearing Santa hats, so there’s no judgment here whatever you decide.

And you’re right about Instagram- I will post a picture of Pep with a Maya Angelo quote about motherhood as penance. I am with you in the shock that there are no pictures of the snack table- this group is usually too good at taking food pictures, as I swear the one brunch I made it to my eggs went cold just so we could get the shot. Perhaps everyone was simply too distressed by your departure?

To comfort you though, Jessica has indeed started a cake business- her call sign is JessJustBakes. She made a firework cake this past summer with a sparkler on the end and that was that- everyone had to have a Jessica Original. If she has time, I’m hoping to commission a unicorn for Pep’s birthday party, as cakes are far from my speciality.

I did not know about the bourbon! Oh that makes me laugh, thank you for telling me. You didn’t need to worry about drafting, I love talking about Peter. It keeps him here. He would be helping you pack to get back to warmer climates! I too wish many things had been different, but I cannot get lost in that world. I’m just thankful that an actually rather ugly bowl has brought us together now. Speaking of which- caramels were great! One actually got a baby tooth out of Pep and so she’s off building a contraption to catch the Tooth Fairy. Pray for me.

I am not nearly so adventurous- but all the gals have started trying to make bread and it is hard not to get a little FOMO. Another toe-dip though- these are chive biscuits, as I thought it would be easier to watch smaller bits rise than one big thing. If you approve I will make them again for Cards Night, which I accidentally volunteered to host while Michelle has her dining room remodeled.

Yours,

Liza

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Dear Liza,

I have the craziest news! (No, not moving back south, maybe one day!) Sandra Turnblow- do you still chat with her? Your seat in heaven is secured if you do, I have always found conversations with her very… trying. Anyway! So after not hearing a peep from her in God knows how many months, she calls me up and says “You have my mother in law’s bowl!” VERY accusatory! And I blanked on what she could possibly be talking about, as I was halfway out the door (it was a Tuesday, when Tom and I are playing clown car chauffeur to get the boys to choir and then James to football and Luke to piano and Tommy’s carpool to soccer and then find them all again in enough time to feed them before homework). So I say “What? Whose mother?” and she says “My mother in law’s BOWL, Liv. You have it!” (I hate when people call me Liv) I freeze when I realize what she’s talking about. THE bowl! But there I am with shinguards in one hand and a nasty protein bar in the other and I just clam up. She goes on about how she borrowed her mother in law’s bowl for my going away party and it had her onion-raisin mini muffins in it (an item I thought I had made up in a nightmare but apparently was indeed real). And now her mother in law is furious that the bowl has not been returned to her in over a year! Well is that on me? Sandra Turnblow seems to think so! I just couldn’t respond, I was fit to be tied at her attitude as I know I’d asked her at the beginning if it was hers and she ignored my text! I asked everyone and so did you! So I just couldn’t say anything because I was not going to be kind- I told her I was busy and would call her back later (which I have not done). Am I a terrible person? I’m so sad that this will be our last exchange. At least it ends on a good note- these lemon bars are double from a batch that finally got the other PTA moms to speak to me. Sugar really does unite us all. Tell Sandra I’m sorry. Or don’t (because I’m not).

Love,

Olivia

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Olivia,

Saw Sandra at Michelle’s the other night, nose in air as usual, even when she lost Cribbage for the third time. Maybe she’s trying to sniff out her mother in law’s bowl. Shame we haven’t seen it.

Lemon squares were to die for. And also to put up with PTA moms for- you just show them who the hell you are and you’ll be the lead hen in no time. Enjoy these chocolate chunk cookies, Pep helped make them to get her Baking badge. Just a quick note as we are late for Girl Scouts but dropping this at the mail on the way. Might get us matching taxi hats until our kids can drive. Heard a rumor you might be visiting Tom’s parents in Greenville for New Years- let me know because we’re just half an hour away and have plenty of room!

Love,

Liza

The Word

Devotion (noun): 1. Love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause. 2. Prayers or religious observances.

I could go on and on with Liza and Olivia chatting with each other (and might add on to this as I do my random re-reads and re-edits). In my “reading to write” research, I recently read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and loved it*. So I wanted to get a little practice in- not just with letters, but because authors Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows do such a wonderful job of creating the characters solely through the characters’ own voices. In letters there’s no “I look like this” unless weirdly asked (which does happen in the book by one eccentric character). The character has to LITERALLY speak for themself and I thought that would be good exercise.

And on the word itself, I’ve been thinking a lot about friendship the past couple weeks and what it means for those of us in our thirties and in this very “unprecedented times” laden world. Finding a person or people you can be devoted to is a precious gift. I’m very thankful for those friendships I am devoted to but also wouldn’t mind another popping up with a mysterious missing bowl.

Also, we haven’t heard from Liza in a while and I wanted to check in 😉

Happy reading!

*you may have already known I read this if you saw my poem about the movie on Micro blog!