By Charlene M Brown
My mommy gave me possibly the best birthday present she has ever given me: pumpkin pan-a-cake mix, a masher, cupcake mix, fantabulous hot cocoa mix and a rolling pin!
Now, it may be obvious that I have a thing for kitchen-ware, but it’s hard to describe how much joy these things have given me! No, really!
I LOVE pancakes! And the cocoa was some of the best I’ve ever tasted, and the cupcakes were just what I had been wanting! I can truly appreciate my mom these days.
It used to be that I greatly disliked when she did stuff like that, but now, I see their place.
And the rolling pin—I had to borrow hers to make pie crusts (which I will NEVER do again!) for Thanksgiving this year and last. Kitchen items really bring me a great amount of joy. No, really! I could be in kitchen stores for weeks straight before I realized I withered away into nothingness just from looking at all the pretty appliances.
The masher—coveted! An old friend stopped by recently and the masher was on my table—he asks, “What is that!?” “It’s a masher.” “What do you do with it!?” “You mash stuff, like mashed potatoes from scratch, eggs [which he doesn’t eat, and therefore my reference on that on was irrelevant] for egg salad, anything.” Mind you, I say all of these with a slightly crazy gleam in my eye as they glaze over thinking about all wonderful things I can now mash! (LOL!!!)
Next to music and words, good food is one of my most favorite and treasured things. And my mom and I have come to an understanding about it. Gone are the days of frivolous gifts that I only politely say thank you for, but have no real use for.
I have called my mom gushing about all of the above-mentioned food items. I told her today that she got an “A++++” for this gift as a whole. [and my sister got me this GREAT card—do you know about Hoops and Yoyo—they are HILARIOUS—okay, that had nothing to do with anything].
It is wholly possible that I am only writing this because I am still gushing over my most excellent birthday a few weeks ago. But that’s alright. I get to praise my mommy (and my girlfriends and my sister), enjoy good food and more “mom” moments, all in one!
And what can be better than that!?
Do You Love Your Life Now!? I DO (because my mommy loves me and buys me neato birthday presents!) 
PS Here is the link to birthday pics!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44792&id=1501285396&l=14c736624c